UConn submitted a new contract offer to try to keep Dan Hurley as its head coach, but a source close to the athletic department tells Adam Zagoria of NJ.com that the school can’t afford to get into a bidding war with the Lakers. Hurley traveled to Los Angeles on Friday to meet with team officials and is expected to consider his options throughout the weekend before reaching a decision. One of those options will be an offer from the university that would reportedly make him the third-highest-paid coach in the NCAA.
“We want to pay him certainly what he’s worth, but there’s a limit to how far we can actually go just because of the political pressures and all of that,” the source told Zagoria. “Even though everybody wants him to stay, and everybody’s behind it, I just think there’s a cap that exists.”
Zagoria points to a USA Today database that lists Bill Self with a $9.6MM annual salary at Kansas, while John Calipari will earn $8MM in the first year of his new contract at Arkansas. Hurley signed a six-year deal worth $32MM after winning his first national title last year, and he earned a $2MM bonus this season on top of his $5MM base salary.
“Obviously, they want to pay him,” Zagoria’s source added. “I just think at some point it’s not going to be Kentucky, it’s not going to be the place where you can just get some stupid number. I think there are just some realities at the school that make that tougher.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Suns will attempt to fill three needs this summer despite being bound by second apron restrictions, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 said on the Burns and Gambo podcast (hat tip to RealGM). After letting Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant run the offense this season, Phoenix hopes to find a point guard who can play at least 20 minutes per game, according to Gambadoro. The team is also in the market for a young wing player who can provide more athleticism, along with an upgrade on Drew Eubanks at backup center.
- Conflicting information about Kings forward Sasha Vezenkov makes it hard to tell which parts of the story are legitimate, James Ham states in his latest edition of Kings Beat (subscription required). As we relayed earlier today, a Eurohoops report stated that Vezenkov has asked for a change of scenery and is considering a return to Europe. However, Ham notes that Matteo Andreani of Basketinside claims the Kings told Vezenkov that he’s not in their plans for next season and they’ll try to trade him. Either scenario could lead to a breakup this summer, and Ham states that team officials have been silent about Vezenkov’s future.
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr understands the pressure on Team USA to capture an Olympic gold medal this summer, calling it a “win or fail” situation, per Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle. Part of Kerr’s early preparation has been watching past losses to see what went wrong, including a 113-111 defeat against Germany in last year’s FIBA World Cup semifinals. “One of the things we look at is, why has USA Basketball lost games in the past?” Kerr said. “There are some common themes, and the big one really is defense. The games we’ve lost, we just failed to stop the other team. This Germany game is one of them — they carved us up. So we’re going to have to be really good defensively this summer.”
Comments?
Suns just need to do everything possible to move Beal. I understand he’s got the no trade but work with him to get him somewhere he wants to go.
Miami I think is a place he would waive the clause, he good mates with Jimmy and they have been after a third star forever and where linked to him in the past. Then in order to get a decent return make it a three team deal.
Miami: Bradley Beal
Pheonix: John Collins and Jordan Clarkson
Utah: Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and pick 22
Pheonix line up
CP3 Booker KD Collins Nurkic
Clarkson Allen Little ONeale (vet min deal)
*CP3 brought out and signed via FA*
Miami
Rozier Beal Butler Jovic Bam
McCain* JRich Jaquez Martin KLove
*Draft MCain at 15th in the draft
Utah (rebuilding)
George Herro … Markeneen Kessler
Sexton … Robinson Hendricks …
Sensabough Bazley Lofton
And have picks 10, 22, 29 and 32 in the draft.
Potentially more trades or add more young talent
Does Butler want to stay in Miami though? I think it’s a question you have to ask, given some of the recent social posts and such.
It’s also not a strong draft. I don’t know how enticing it’d be for Utah to help facilitate your proposed deal when they already have the three picks in hand.
Why is he a cry baby wimp? Is he crying from Pat Riley
Idk I hear what you’re saying but as Miami, I think for Jimmy it’s just about money and he deserves that extension. He only wants 2 years it’s not much to ask for and this would help them compete for the next couple years. Plus long term it doesn’t cut into your plans you still have McCain, Jaquez, Jovic and Bam.
As for Utah yeah it’s not as great for them but it does address one of their biggest weaknesses last year which was shooting and opening up the floor. Duncan is a sniper and Herro is a shooter. Opens up minutes at PF for Taylor Hendricks, less competition for minutes in the backcourt with THT also gone Sexton can own that sixth man role.
Then you’ve got an extra first for helping facilitate the deal.
Beal is a big negative on the trade market. Suns will not get anything valuable back for him. Best they can hope for is another former star without giving up a lot of draft picks to get rid of Beal.
Regardless
Heat don’t want Beal contract
I understand how this benefits Utah and Phoenix, but I don’t see the upside for Miami here.
Heat already have injury risk players, don’t want Beal, who has a no trade clause…. Heat may need to reset with trading Jimmy if they don’t want to extend him, but Beal is not the answer. They said no last year then went to Phoenix who accepted no trade clause.
There are rumors that the Lakers have offered Hurley $100 MM over eight years ($12.5 MM annually). Hard to imagine how UConn can keep him.
Pick a coach already, LeDork.
Brawny Sensation is “not involved in the coaching recruitment”, per Dick Paul. Everyone should have a friend like Dick Paul, Hudler’s Son.
LeBron wanted the Lakers to hire Hurley
Likely?
DLo walks for nothing
If yes
Suns give DLo 3 years $90 million contract
Then force Lakers to take Beal contract
Lakers are smart enough to not take Beal’s bad contract. Suns don’t have the draft picks to send somebody to take Beal.
Are they? They just traded a sum for Westbrook a little over a year ago. They also see value in other negative guys like D Russell. A lot of their roster choices have been anything but smart.