The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly focusing on UConn's Dan Hurley to switch fired head coach Darvin Hamm after interviewing with different well-known candidates, together with LeBron James' pal and podcast co-host, JJ Redick.
ESPN is reporting The Lakers have been in touch with Hurley and discussions are anticipated to develop within the coming days. Sources informed the community's Adrian Wojnarowski that Hurley — the coach of the back-to-back nationwide champion Connecticut Huskies — has been on the forefront of the Lakers' teaching search and that the workforce is making ready a long-term supply.
Hurley, 51, has beforehand stated he needs to teach within the NBA sometime and James could possibly be a fan. Responding to a podcast interview between Redick and Hurley, James shared his admiration for the Huskies coach on X: 'He's superior!!! Together with his workers. Tremendous artistic together with his O! I find it irresistible.'
Shams Charania of The Athletic beforehand reported that Redick was believed to be the favourite to get the Lakers job regardless of his lack of teaching expertise. Based on ESPN, Redick has already interviewed for the Lakers place, together with Charlotte Hornets assistant James Borrego, Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell and Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman.
Lakers spokespeople didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com's request for affirmation.
Lakers reportedly making ready to make long-term supply to UConn's Dan Hurley
Redick smiles throughout a match between the Denver Nuggets and LA Lakers on March 2
The son of Corridor of Fame highschool coach Bob Hurley Sr. and the brother of former Duke star and NBA guard Bobby, the previous Seton Corridor guard has had his personal meteoric rise by means of the teaching ranks. Since taking the job at Wagner in 2010, Hurley moved on to extra prestigious jobs in Rhode Island and finally Connecticut, the place he gained the final two nationwide titles.
Over 14 seasons as a head coach, Hurley has compiled a 292-163 file whereas main his groups to 6 NCAA Match berths and two convention titles. He was additionally named the Naismith Coach of the Yr for the 2023-24 season.
Regardless of his success, Hurley's reveal because the Lakers' candidate — and that he's actually not the favourite — comes as a shock.
Redick's closeness to James (they co-host the 'Thoughts the Recreation' podcast) places him in a superb place for the job, although Charania famous the four-time MVP will not be concerned within the hiring course of.
And even when Redick is their most well-liked candidate, James' personal future in L.A. is considerably murky. He's beneath contract, however he has a participant choice for the 2024-25 season, which supplies him the appropriate to turn into a free agent.
That's important, as a result of James' son Bronny is without doubt one of the NBA's hopefuls on this month's draft, and the 39-year-old Bronny has expressed a want to play alongside his namesake earlier than he retires.
The Lakers are in place to draft Bronny after the New Orleans Pelicans deferred their rights to the No. 17 decide in favor of L.A.'s decide in 2025.
Whether or not Lakers basic supervisor Rob Pelinka will use a first-round decide on Bronny is anybody's guess. Bronny, a McDonald's All-American in highschool, will play sparingly at USC in 2023-24 after struggling a cardiac arrest final summer time.
If the Lakers go on Bronny within the first spherical, they may hope to take him at No. 55 within the second spherical, giving his father an incentive to stay in L.A. subsequent season.
However that technique may include some dangers, because the rival Phoenix Suns are reportedly contemplating deciding on the 19-year-old with the No. 22 decide.
“The Suns are hoping to amass LeBron James this offseason, which is why they’ve a really critical draft alternative at No. 22 to probably entice Bronny James,” NBA insider Evan Sideri wrote on X. “Phoenix believes they will persuade LeBron to affix Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to type a historic tremendous workforce.”
This report corroborates one other report by Charania, who stated Run It Back FanDuel TV Show Bronny is planning on understanding for the Suns along with the Lakers.
James already has a number of ties to the Suns.
Along with newly employed assistant coach David Fizdale, whom James is aware of from his Miami days, the Suns' entrance workplace is led by his former Warmth and Cavaliers teammate James Jones.
Plus, James has performed with Booker and Durant on Crew USA, giving him some familiarity with the Suns' high-scoring assault.
Even James' agent Wealthy Paul has a connection to the Suns by means of one other shopper, Phoenix middle Jusuf Nurkic.
However earlier than James begins searching for a house in Maricopa County, it's value noting that he'd must give up roughly $50 million by getting out of his deal and signing a veteran minimal contract in Phoenix.
