Dan Hurley turns down Lakers, will remain at UConn
The Lakers will be back on the search for a head coach as Dan Hurley has turned down the Lakers to remain at UConn.
A wild weekend of news will ultimately see the Lakers in the same spot they were a week ago but with one significant denial.
Dan Hurley has reportedly turned down the Lakers and will remain in UConn, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, leaving the team still in search of a head coach.
BREAKING: Connecticut’s Dan Hurley has turned down the Los Angeles Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer and will return to chase a third straight national title, sources tell ESPN. LA would’ve made him one of NBA’s six highest paid coaches. pic.twitter.com/hEXo3o00SR
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2024
Woj’s report on the contract figures is perhaps the most interesting part of this. A six-year, $70 million offer comes out to an annual average value of $11.6 million. That amount would make him the fifth-highest-paid coach in the NBA, which is no small feat for a first-time head coach hired from the college ranks.
It does, however, pale in comparison to the reported $100 million contract offer. Realistically, that number always felt like an incredible amount, particularly for a coach with no NBA experience. Would that have made the difference in swaying him to come to Los Angeles? It’s hard to see how things played out and not think so.
As swept away as Hurley became by the Lakers courtship and vision for him, he ultimately couldn't walk away from a chance to make history and pursue a third straight NCAA title. Even before Lakers talks, Hurley already had a UConn offer to become one of highest paid NCAA coaches…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2024
The Lakers’ interest in Hurley only became public on Thursday. Up to that point, all indications were that JJ Redick would be the team’s next head coach and it was just a waiting game for the Lakers until the end of the NBA Finals.
However, as it turned out, he was the Lakers’ No. 1 option from the beginning. Impressively, the team kept it under wraps throughout their search and various interviews. Hurley met with the likes of vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka as well as team governor Jeanie Buss before flying back to the East Coast on Saturday.
Instead of making the jump to the NBA, though, Hurley will remain at UConn with his new contract in tow. The Lakers, now, will really turn their attention to other candidates, whether that be Redick, James Borrego or another mystery candidate yet to be named.
In reading the tea leaves, it feels like the Lakers were used as pawns for Hurley to get the contract he wanted from UConn. Prior to the reported Lakers interest, Hurley and the Huskies had not agreed to a contract extension. You can be certain that he has a new contract now!
Ultimately, the Lakers enter this week in the same spot they were in for most of last week...save for a really wild weekend.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.