There is a new frontrunner for the Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching vacancy: UConn’s Dan Hurley.
ESPN is reporting the Lakers are in contact with Hurley and discussions are expected to escalate in the coming days. Sources told the network’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Hurley – coach of the back-to-back NCAA champion Connecticut Huskies – has been at the forefront of the Lakers’ coaching search and the team is preparing a ‘massive’ long-term offer.
Hurley, who currently has an annual salary of $5.3 million, told his players this morning that he is in talks with the Lakers, according to Fox Sports’ John Fanta. Previously, the 51-year-old Hurley told Pardon My Take in 2023, he can envision himself moving to the NBA ‘down the road.’
If he is considering the Lakers, Hurley may already have a fan in LeBron James. Responding to an April podcast interview between Hurley and retired NBA guard JJ Redick, James shared his admiration for the Huskies coach.
‘He’s so DAMN GOOD!!!’ James wrote on X. ‘Along with his staff. Super creative with their [offense]! Love it.’
The Lakers are reportedly preparing to make a long-term offer to UConn’s Dan Hurley
Redick smiles during the game between the Denver Nuggets and the LA Lakers on March 2
Lakers spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for confirmation.
The son of Hall of Fame high school coach Bob Hurley Sr. and brother of former Duke star and NBA guard Bobby, the former Seton Hall guard has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the coaching ranks. Since taking the job at Wagner in 2010, Hurley has moved on to more prestigious jobs at Rhode Island and, ultimately, Connecticut, where he won the last two national titles.
Over 14 seasons as a head coach, Hurley has compiled a record of 292-163, while guiding his teams to six NCAA Tournament berths and a pair of conference titles. He was also named the Naismith Coach of the Year of the 2023-24 season.
Despite his success, Hurley’s revelation as a Lakers candidate – much less the favorite – comes as a surprise.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania previously reported that Redick – James’ friend and podcast co-host – was considered the favorite to land the Lakers job despite his inexperience. Redick has already interviewed for the Lakers position, as has Charlotte Hornets assistant James Borrego, Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell and Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman, according to ESPN.
Redick’s proximity to James (they co-host the ‘Mind the Game’ podcast) appeared to put him in good position for the job, although Charania has reported that the four-time MVP is uninvolved in the hiring process.
Of course, James’ own future in LA is somewhat clouded. He’s under contract, but has a player option for the 2024-25 season, giving him the right to become a free agent.
That’s significant because James’ son, Bronny, is among the NBA hopefuls in this month’s draft, and the 39-year-old hopes to play alongside his namesake before retiring.
What’s more, the Lakers are in position to draft Bronny after the New Orleans Pelicans deferred their right to the No. 17 pick in favor of taking LA’s first-round selection in 2025.
Listening to this on repeat to get me through pic.twitter.com/PVWSdM81GN
— Marty Summa Jr (@MartyMcFly34) June 6, 2024
LeBron James has already expressed his admiration for UConn coach Danny Hurley’s offense
Ex-USC guard Bronny James, 19, talks to the media during the 2024 NBA Combine on May 15
Former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham (right) and current team GM Rob Pelinka (left)
Whether or not Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka would use that first-round pick on Bronny is anyone’s guess. A McDonald’s All-American in High School, Bronny played sparingly at USC in 2023-24 after suffering a cardiac arrest last summer.
If the Lakers do pass on Bronny in the first round they could hope to land him in the second at No. 55, thereby incentivizing his father to remain in LA next season.
But that strategy could come with some risks because the rival Phoenix Suns are reportedly considering drafting the 19-year-old with the No. 22 pick.
‘The Suns are hoping to pursue LeBron James this offseason, which is why Bronny James is a very serious draft option at No. 22 overall to potentially lure him in,’ NBA Insider Evan Sidery wrote on X. ‘Phoenix appears to believe they can convince LeBron to join forces with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to create a historic superteam.’
That report bolsters another by Charania, who told the Run It Back FanDuel TV show that Bronny plans to work out for the Suns in addition to the Lakers.
A former Seton Hall guard (left), Hurley is the son of Hall of Famer Bob Hurley Sr. (right)
The Phoenix Suns have re-signed assistant coach and LeBron James favorite David Fizdale
And James does have several connections with the Suns.
In addition to assistant coach David Fizdale, whom he knows from his Miami days, James is long-time friend and former teammate of Suns GM James Jones.
Furthermore, James has played with Booker and Durant on Team USA, giving him some familiarity with the Suns’ high-scoring offense.
Even James’ agent, Rich Paul, has connections to the Suns in the former of another client, Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic.
But before James can start house hunting in Maricopa County, it’s worth noting that he would have to surrender around $50 million by opting out of his deal and signing a veteran’s minimum contract with the Suns, who are roughly $100 million over the salary cap.