UConn coach Dan Hurley is traveling to California to meet with Lakers leadership – including team owner Jeanie Buss and head of basketball operations Rob Pelinka – on Friday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports that the team is “eager to close” on a deal that would make Hurley its next head coach.
After initially reporting early on Thursday morning that the Lakers have prioritized Hurley in their head coaching search, Wojnarowski says the team’s pursuit of the two-time national champion has “accelerated.” Sources tell ESPN that the two sides have already talked about what a potential deal would look like — Woj notes that it would be “significant” in terms of both years and salary.
Hurley let UConn administrators know on Wednesday and told his players on Thursday that he was exploring his options with the Lakers. While he hasn’t made any decisions yet, there’s “momentum” in his talks with the Lakers, sources tell Wojnarowski.
Woj stated during a TV appearance on Thursday (Twitter video link) that he expects resolution on the Hurley front within the next few days – perhaps by the end of the weekend or early next week – since the coach won’t want to leave the Huskies hanging for too long.
We have more on Hurley and Lakers after passing along several Hurley-related notes this afternoon:
- The Lakers’ interest in Hurley wasn’t just kept secret from the public until Thursday morning — many people within the organization weren’t even aware of that interest, writes Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Hurley’s name began coming up in internal conversations about head coaching candidates last week, but he seemed like a long shot at that time, Buha adds.
- Buha describes Hurley as a legitimate candidate for the Lakers’ job and perhaps the favorite over J.J. Redick, who was considered the frontrunner as recently as Wednesday. However, sources tell The Athletic that the search is “far from settled” and that Redick is still a very viable candidate.
- Longtime Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski has advised the Lakers during their coaching search, and his connection to Redick (a former Blue Devil) was believed to be a major consideration for Los Angeles. However, as Buha observes, Krzyzewski also coached Hurley’s brother Bobby and has a strong relationship with the UConn head coach. Krzyzewski’s belief in Hurley is one of the factors that has convinced the Lakers to aggressively pursue him, Buha writes.
- Wojnarowski said during a TV appearance on Thursday that he believes the Lakers would be “far more likely” to draft LeBron James‘ son Bronny James if they end up hiring Hurley. “When you talk about LeBron James and the impact this has for him, I think this is the first significant action the Lakers have taken to show you they are actually very serious about drafting Bronny James at 55,” Wojnarowski said (YouTube link). “Because they do see Dan Hurley as the perfect coach to guide his development.”
- Veteran columnist Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times, who previously argued against the idea of the Lakers hiring Redick as their head coach, strongly endorsed Hurley for the job, referring to it as a “no-brainer.”
I support the Lakers to hire Dan Hurley, but he should demand 5 years $80 million contract.
Why?
The Lakers expectation is sky high.
I don’t think he’s leaving UConn for a 5 year deal. Gonna be 8 at least.
He won’t last 8 years with the Lakers or even 5. Lebron has 1-2 years max and Laker org has no clue on what a rebuild is. They won’t let him actually coach and whatever star they pursue after Bron will probably cry and want a new coach.
Nobody said he would last 8 years. He said he would at least get an 8 year contract to leave UConn. Which is true. Why would the Lakers not let him coach? You seriously took the time to make a comment 100% full of nonsense. It seems you are the one crying not the next hypothetical star in your rambling.
Well they can offer it and he can accept it, but they will likely be paying some of those years for him not to coach. We have seen recently so many 1 and done hires.
Why do people assume he will do great in the NBA. He did great in college but that was with some of the best recruits. Also he had players that listened to him and had no other choice but be a team player. In the NBA you have players who think they know better than a coach.
He could probably get a 10 year $10 million a year contract from UConn. Self has a lifetime contract with Kansas. He’ll be getting more than $10 million a year soon. Hurley will get that, no problem.
With NIL, college is (obviously) becoming more of a business for the PLAYERS.
Always has been for the coaches.
Many coaches are not comfortable with the game-changing NIL piece being in the equation now.
Great time for Hurley to get out.
College coaches fail in the NBA. Brad Stevens has moved up to a nothing position in the celtics front office because Jayson Tatum wanted him fired.
A nothing position? What are you taking about?
“Moved up to a nothing position” President of Baskerball operations is a nothing position? Haha it’s called a promotion little brain. A nothing position with more responsibility and a higher salary. Amazing with all the resources available to us these days that people can still be this ignorant.
He replaced Ainge who went to Utah to be CEO of basketball operations and alternate governor of the Jazz.
Call yourself out with perhaps the most knucklehead comment in the history of comments .
@Callyouout
Absolutely nothing wrong with “failing” for $70 million… where’s that line start?
Hahaha nice try.
Which team will cock-block the lakers to draft Bronny?
The Beijing Royal Fighters practice squad.
Hope this Hurley fellow can make Lebron play defense.
Didn’t the UConn AD just get a new contract. And Hurley was looking to renegotiate his?
Funny how the timing worked out on this one. My gut says this is as much a bargaining tactic to land a better contract at UConn as it is legitimate interest in the Lakers gig.
It is like Harbaugh he kept taking interviews and getting new deals from Michigan. I think Hurley will eventually make the jump, but Lakers are not the team.
Jeannie has been an embarrassment since her daddy passed. She talks about Lakers as a public trust, but her actions belie that statement.
Jeanie hasn’t been an embarrassment. She’s a pretty good owner who, at times, has trusted the wrong people to help her. Fact is the Lakers have a title since Dr. Buss passed, and there aren’t a ton of franchises that can say that. They’ve acquired one of the greatest players to ever play the game during her time as owner, which is significant. The brand is still strong.