Disarray in Los Angeles Lakers Coaching Search
LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers lost Dan Hurley on Monday. The Lakers’ attempt to secure the NCAA champion coach has not only failed but has also exposed significant organizational disarray and confusion.
A Public Rejection
Hurley turned down the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer. This decision was not unexpected. Hurley has the chance to chase a third consecutive NCAA championship, and the Lakers’ coaching role might indeed have been a poisoned chalice. No guarantee exists that a hard-charging, no-NBA-experience hire like Hurley would have fit well with LeBron James.
LeBron James has exacting standards and a particular vision of how teams should function. He prefers a partnership with a head coach rather than being a subordinate. The Lakers, unfortunately, don’t seem to know what they’re doing or whom they aspire to become. The pursuit of Hurley has ended in a very public and slow-moving rejection, which has embarrassed the franchise and given it an amateurish sheen.
The Gamble of Hiring Hurley
Hurley was a gamble. The Lakers were spurned in a manner that made them look small and disorganized. It begs the question of why they pursued a college coach who clearly didn't want the job. Hurley might have been a huge success in Los Angeles. His credentials as a proven winner are unquestionable. Scouts and front-office personnel have commended the tactical level of UConn’s teams. Perhaps Hurley could have made the leap from college basketball to NBA coaching successfully as Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan have done in the past. However, many remain skeptical of college head coaches transitioning to the NBA level.
The Fallout
Being turned down publicly is one thing; being the Lakers and turned down by a college coach is another blow altogether. JJ Redick, another candidate, must feel stung. Redick exuded confidence about landing his first head coaching gig on his podcast. To face national TV after being dumped for someone else must have been hard. Similarly, James Borrego found himself in a strange state of limbo and rejection over the past few days.
The candidates with NBA experience observed the Lakers’ failed attempt with Hurley. The Lakers’ two strongest candidates, Hurley and Redick, couldn’t have been more different. Hurley represented an investment in the longer game, focusing on a post-LeBron reality and potentially using three first-round picks to build a youthful team. Conversely, Redick signaled a focus on LeBron’s waning years, likely to trade those three first-round picks for a star player. These contrasting visions illustrate the confusion within the Lakers' camp.
A Lack of Direction
The Lakers’ approach to hiring an NBA head coach appears as casual as scrolling through Netflix. This is far from a sound way to run an NBA organization, and it comes with consequences. Hurley's rejection now makes it challenging for the Lakers to find a strong candidate. The organization cannot afford for LeBron to decide to go elsewhere, as he possesses substantial leverage. He might even have a firmer say in who will get the coaching gig, and LeBron, along with the new coach, might push to trade for another star player. While this could work as a well-thought-out plan, it isn't so as an unintended consequence of being embarrassed by Hurley.
The Future
The Lakers’ pursuit of Hurley was a shocker, and the biggest surprise is the evident lack of a strategic plan for the future. The team does not seem to know its own vision for winning. The disarray and lack of direction within the organization have been laid bare.
"I can do better." This quote encapsulates the sentiment that the Lakers must now adopt moving forward. They need a clear, cohesive strategy that aligns with their ambitions and respect the ethos of the team. The Lakers' coaching debacle must be a turning point in redefining their future trajectory both on and off the court.