The Los Angeles Lakers, fresh off their disappointing playoff exit, are reportedly set to offer UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley a "massive, long-term contract" to become their next head coach, per ESPN.
Amidst the ongoing speculation surrounding their head coaching search, the Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly identified UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley as their top target. ESPN reports that the Lakers and Hurley are planning to "elevate discussions" about the possibility of the back-to-back national champion leading the franchise.
The Lakers are reportedly prepared to offer Hurley a "massive, long-term contract," according to ESPN. Hurley, 51, is currently under a six-year, $32.1 million contract with UConn, but he has reportedly left the door open to following his dream of being an NBA head coach.
Hurley has expressed his desire to remain at UConn and chase a three-peat, but the allure of the Lakers' offer may be too tempting to resist. The Lakers are one of the most iconic franchises in sports history and boast a rich tradition of winning. The opportunity to coach a team led by LeBron James could be the ultimate challenge for any coach.
The Lakers had also been rumored to be targeting former Duke star and current ESPN analyst J.J. Redick as their next head coach. The Athletic reported earlier this week that the team was "zeroing in" on Redick. However, nothing has been made official yet, and Redick has indicated that he will address the Lakers situation after the playoffs are over.
Redick, who is close friends with LeBron James, has no prior coaching experience. His candidacy has drawn mixed reactions, with some questioning his qualifications for such a high-profile role. However, Redick has a deep understanding of the game and could bring a fresh perspective to the Lakers organization.
The Lakers parted ways with Darvin Ham after two seasons once their playoff run came to an end. Ham was 90-74 and put together back-to-back winning seasons. However, the Lakers failed to make a deep playoff run under Ham, and the team's front office decided to move in a different direction.
Now, Los Angeles is back to square one in their coaching search. Hurley and Redick appear to be the two leading candidates at this time, but it is possible that other candidates could emerge in the coming days. The Lakers will be hoping to land a coach who can bring them back to championship contention as soon as possible.
