While many fans are focused on the ongoing NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics, there is considerable intrigue centered on the Los Angeles Lakers and their coaching search. It has been more than a month since the franchise dismissed Darvin Ham following a first round exit to the Denver Nuggets, and Lakers management appears torn between two choices to replace him in this pressure-packed role.
When will the decision be made?
On one hand, the Lakers have been strongly linked with ESPN analyst J.J. Redick, whose professional future will become clearer once the NBA Finals end. On the other, Connecticut Huskies men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley has publicly admitted that Los Angeles has offered him the job — and Hurley has revealed when he will make a decision on jumping to the NBA.
Hurley will decide Monday
Hurley has told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Lakers “made a compelling case” for leaving a UConn program that he has built into a two-time defending NCAA champion. Hurley told ESPN that he spent Sunday mulling over what has been reported as a “massive, long-term offer” and will decide whether to accept the gig on Monday.
Hurley has become the most sought-after coach in college basketball after leading UConn to back-to-back national titles. He has a 141-58 record as the Huskies’ coach, and his contract at the school — which pays him more than $5 million annually — runs until 2029.
Hurley has long wanted to coach in the NBA, and the chance to work with LeBron James — who is expected to opt out of his contract but return under amended terms — could prove too good to pass up.
Many of Hurley’s responsibilities would center on player development, which will become especially important if Los Angeles uses one of its two draft picks on LeBron’s son, Bronny — regarded as a talented but raw prospect. LeBron has insisted that his final remaining career goal is to play with Bronny, a dream that could become reality this summer.
