-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
https://x.com/LakersNation/status/1800242024831967432
The Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching search seemed to be focused on JJ Redick and James Borrego early on, although the focus quickly shifted to UConn head coach Dan Hurley last week when news broke that he was a candidate.
The Lakers made Hurley a priority and were said to give him a massive offer, although after he took the weekend to mull it over, he decided to stay at UConn and chase a third straight National Championship.
While the Lakers’ courtship of Hurley was very public and it became clear he was their No. 1 option, their focus must shift elsewhere as they are still without a head coach. Who exactly they will turn to next remains to be seen, but according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, both Redick and Borrego remain viable candidates:
It can’t be great for Redick and Borrego knowing they are at best the Lakers’ second-best choice. Head coaching jobs don’t come around too often though, especially with a prestigious organization like the Lakers, so both will likely remain interested in L.A. if they get the call.
Another potential candidate that recently came up was Jay Wright so it will be interesting to see if the Lakers shift their focus to him, although he has shown no indication that he wants to get back into coaching after retiring from Villanova a couple of years ago.
It’s possible that more candidates can pop up in the coming days, but with Hurley out of the picture, it definitely seems like Redick and Borrego’s job to lose given L.A.’s familiarity with them in this process.
It seems that the only way the Lakers could have gotten Dan Hurley to leave UConn was to offer him a contract he could not refuse. It was originally reported that their offer was north of $100 million, which may have enticed Hurley and his family.
As it turns out though, the Lakers offered him a six-year, $70 million contract, which was not a significant enough raise to move across the country and take on a new challenge in the NBA.
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of Michael H]()
Michael H wrote a new post
Aloha,
Perhaps the Lakers have a Rob problem. Put your self in Hurley’s shoes. We all know about the stumbles prior to LeBron so I won’t cover those. Let’s start with LeBron. LeBron arrived we get off to a 20-14 start with a cast of young pups. We are decimated by injuries including LeBron, miss the playoffs and Luke is fired.
We hire Frank and land AD. We win a ring but over the next 2 years Rob dismantled a championship team. We are decimated by injuries again and Frank gets fired.
Darvin leads us to the conference finals his first year. We lose a hard caught series this year. We have injuries but the Nuggets are healthy. Darvin gets fired.
Not a great track record there. Pretty short leash. Now Rob will not fire himself. He will blame the coach. And Jeanie won’t fire him because he’s Kobe’s best friend. I would be very hesitant about walking into that myself. I’m sure Dan looked at that as well.
4 Comments-
![Profile picture of Michael H]()
It’s funny, so many people were warning him about taking the Laker job, but it’s all about the money?
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
I think the money was not the issue. He just did not want to leave. The Lakers should have known that the only way they could have gotten him was a Godfather offer he could not refuse. We were not willing to give him that. Even Jeanie and Rob had to know that 6 for $70M, while fair, was not an offer he could not refuse.
-
![Profile picture of Michael H]()
If one is happy where they are and feel fulfilled AND you are making 6 mil a year, money just may not be that important to everyone. Besides it looks like he will get a salary bump to boot. Did he give the Lakers an opportunity to counter? Perhaps not if he just didn’t want the job.
-
![Profile picture of Michael H]()
The Lakers reputation has been tarnished over the years and it’s not what it used to be. there were a lot of voices out there saying he shouldnt take the job.
-
-
-
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
-
![Profile picture of MongoSlade]()
Just to clarify….the Lakers haven’t even had a single formal interview with JayJay?? So they were ready to hire Hurley without even speaking to this “visionary” basketball super-genius? That says ALOT. Also, they’ve interviewed Borrego twice already. What da hell are we doing?
-
-
-
![Profile picture of therealhtj]()
Yes, let’s get all excited about coach plan b!
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
1 Comment-
![Profile picture of MongoSlade]()
Lakers Front Office has made this same mistake numerous times in the past with both players & coaches. They believe too much in the Laker Exceptionalism BS and think they can dupe folks into coming here at a discount. Jeanie & Rob are sitting in disbelief right now; not realizing that this job ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.
-
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
I’m surprised but ultimately happy as I thought it could be tough for a guy who never played or coached in the NBA to succeed, especially when he’s not a coach who has ever recruited or counted on superstar players. He’s better suited for college.
This opens the door for JJ Redick to become the Lakers’ next head coach. I’m more confident he can learn to be a great coach with a strong lead assistant than that Danny could overcome the ant-college attitude of most NBA players.
-
![Profile picture of MongoSlade]()
Jeanie tried to go cheap once again. Needed more years on that deal if you expected him to leave UCONN….
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
Surprising that the offer was only 6-years $70M. Lakers still trying to be cheap when it comes to paying elite coaches.
-
![Profile picture of Michael H]()
I don’t think that’s cheap for a coach with no NBA experience. Besides the rumors had been 100 mil fo 8 years. This offer was only slightly less per year.
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
No but the news was this was going to be an offer Hurley could not refuse. That was clearly not the case. Lakers still worried about overpaying when they have a history of doing that and it costing them in the long run. If Danny was the one, that offer was not going all in.
-
![Profile picture of MongoSlade]()
It’s about the guaranteed years. You aren’t gonna convince a guy to leave someplace where he’s comfortable by giving him only a slightly better contract. If you’re truly trying to build a culture then it’s gonna take time and probably won’t truly start until LeBron is retired. I was thinking 8 years would be the offer.
-
-
-
![Profile picture of therealhtj]()
As predicted. 6 years from now they’ll still be rebuilding The years and money were just evidence they weren’t serious. This guy still wasn’t doing anything with the pieces on the chessboard anyway.
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
-
![Profile picture of humanomaly]()
He brings no intellectual property wherever he goes. He can put his hands into each deep pocket…about $5 million in each pocket, before taxes…Makes one wonder about Doc Rivers….
-
![Profile picture of MongoSlade]()
Good for D.Ham. Well-respected assistant for many years who was in over his head here. Everything ain’t for Everybody.
-
![Profile picture of therealhtj]()
Well he’s got experience coaching a brittle star with a mostly washed one, so he should feel right at home.
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
- Load More Posts
I’m still trying to figure out when JayJay has ever exhibited these lofty attributes that so many folks seem to give him credit for?