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LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers lost Dan Hurley on Monday, marking a significant blow to the franchise. It appears that the Lakers have lost the thread in their quest for a new head coach.
Hurley turned down the Lakers' six-year, $70 million offer, and this rejection did not come as a complete shock to many. Hurley, currently focusing on chasing a third straight NCAA championship, saw more merit in staying at the college level than venturing into the uncertain waters of NBA coaching with the Lakers.
The Poisoned Chalice
The Lakers' head coaching job may indeed be a poisoned chalice. There was no guarantee that a hard-charging, no-NBA-experience hire like Hurley would fit well with LeBron James. LeBron, known for his exacting standards and particular view of team operations, prefers a partnership with a head coach rather than being a subordinate.
The Lakers' management seems uncertain about their direction. They do not appear to know what they are doing or what kind of team they aspire to become. The pursuit of Hurley, who was a significant gamble, has ultimately embarrassed the franchise. Being spurned in such a public, slow-moving manner has made the Lakers look small and amateurish.
Questionable Decisions
The situation begs the question: why would the Lakers put themselves out there for a college coach who clearly didn't want the job? Hurley might have been a huge success in Los Angeles, given his track record as a proven winner. Scouts and front-office personnel have been consistently impressed with the tactical acumen of UConn's teams under Hurley. While he potentially could have made the leap from college basketball to NBA coaching successfully, similar to Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan, the past does not always predict the future. There remains widespread skepticism regarding college head coaches at the NBA level.
The Aftermath
Being turned down publicly by a college coach is one thing, but for the Lakers, it is another blow entirely. JJ Redick, another candidate for the position, must feel particularly stung. Redick exuded confidence about confirming his new head-coaching gig on his podcast. Having to go on national TV and pretend he hadn't been sidelined for someone else must have been challenging.
Similarly, James Borrego was left in a strange limbo-meets-rejection scenario over the past few days. Other candidates with NBA experience watched the Lakers' failed pursuit of Hurley with a mix of skepticism and concern.
Different Visions
The Lakers' two strongest candidates, Hurley and Redick, could not have been more different in terms of their visions for the team. Hiring Hurley would have been an investment in a longer-term strategy, looking beyond LeBron's tenure with the team. Hurley might have turned three first-round picks into the foundation of a youthful team that could grow and develop over time.
In contrast, selecting Redick would signal a focus on LeBron's remaining years, emphasizing immediate competition. Redick might have traded those three first-round picks for a star player to capitalize on LeBron's current abilities. These disparate visions underscore a lack of cohesive strategy within the Lakers' organization.
A Slipshod Approach
The Lakers seem to be operating as if hiring an NBA head coach is akin to scrolling through Netflix, selecting and discarding options at will. This slipshod approach is not a sound method for running an NBA organization, and there are real consequences for such indecisiveness and poor planning.
Hurley's rejection makes it considerably harder for the Lakers to find a winning candidate moving forward. With LeBron holding significant leverage, there's a risk that he might influence the coaching selection process more heavily now. The new coach, along with LeBron, might push for trading another star player, which is acceptable if it is part of a well-thought-out strategy. However, it should not be an unintended consequence of being embarrassed by a college coach's refusal.
No Clear Plan
The Lakers' pursuit of Hurley was a shocker, but the biggest surprise lies in the team's lack of a coherent, long-term plan. The organization appears to have no clear vision for winning in the future, an issue that ultimately led to Hurley's rejection and continues to plague the Lakers as they search for the right head coach.
Quotes
"I can do better."