Sources: Lakers preparing enormous deal to Hurley

Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPNJun 6, 2024, 06:50 AM ET The Los Angeles Lakers are targeting UConn’s Dan Hurley as the franchise’s next coach and are preparing a massive, long-term agreement deal to bring the back-to-back NCAA national champion to the NBA, sources told ESPN.The Lakers have actually had initial contact with Hurley and the sides are preparing to escalate conversations in the coming days, sources informed ESPN. Hurley has been at the forefront of the Lakers ‘search from the start of the process, even while the organization has actually done its due diligence speaking with a number of other prospects, sources said.Lakers vice president of basketball operations and basic supervisor Rob Pelinka and governor Jeanie Buss aspire to formally discuss with Hurley their vision of weding his dominant program– built upon both his tactical acumen and elite player development– with the storied Lakers’brand, sources stated. After historically dominant

back-to-back national title seasons, UConn’s Dan Hurley has actually emerged as the most desirable coach in basketball. Jamie Squire/Getty Images Hurley, 51, has typically explained his ambition to one

day coach in the NBA and has expressed to the Lakers a desire to explore the full image of a partnership with among basketball’s winningest franchises, sources said.The pursuit of Hurley comes on the 20th anniversary of the Lakers attempting to hire then-Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski to a record-breaking contract in 2004. Krzyzewski chose to remain with the Blue Devils, however the climate has actually considerably changed in college athletics and the needs of NIL fundraising for non-power football schools like UConn are an especially ruthless grind– and expected to become a lot more difficult.As for the Lakers ‘stars, LeBron James has been impressed with Hurley’s advanced offensive actions, and presuming he goes back to L.A. in totally free firm, the possibility of utilizing the 55th overall pick in this month’s NBA draft on USC freshman guard Bronny James makes Hurley a much more interesting candidate. If that happens, James gets an opportunity to have fun with his child and the advantage of Hurley and his personnel ending up being accountable for Bronny’s pro development.In a social networks post responding to a podcast interview with JJ Redick, James posted on the social media platform X about Hurley:”He’s so DAMN GREAT!!! Together with his personnel.

Super innovative with their (offense). Love it.”The Lakers have been committed to making All-NBA forward Anthony Davis a substantial part of the conversation on the next head coach and wish to make sure that he’s aligned with how a new coach

strategies to feature him on both offense and defense, sources said.The Lakers have actually had several interviews with other prospects, including Charlotte Hornets assistant James Borrego, Redick, Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell and Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman, sources said. The Lakers have actually proceeded

with discussions with other candidates over the previous couple of weeks, however the capacity of landing Hurley has been the focus of the Lakers’search, sources said.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Part of the attraction of Hurley traces back to the changing landscape of NBA roster building under the collective bargaining contract. Since of the roster-building limitations of the new second-apron, the ability of big-market groups to construct contending lineups by trading several draft picks and young players for a third star player has actually mainly been gotten rid of. Beyond the 17th total choice in this month’s draft, the Lakers have a young core of Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Max Christie that management thinks can still show even higher enhancement under Hurley’s training, sources said.After historically dominant back-to-back nationwide title seasons, Hurley has emerged as the most coveted coach in the sport– and the possibility of him leaving UConn and the Big East Conference for the Lakers has enormous implications for both college basketball and the NBA. Hurley has built a juggernaut that has lapped the sport– culminating with the NCAA’s very first repeat champ in 17 years and a tournament efficiency that produced the most significant point differential in tournament history– 140 points.The possibility of UConn winning a 3rd straight title does loom with the return of a preseason top-5 group, but the Huskies did lose 2 lottery game choices(center Donovan Clingan and guard Stephon Castle) and a first-team All-American point guard(Tristen Newton)to the NBA draft.The Lakers dismissed coach Darvin Ham after a first-round exit in the Western Conference playoffs. Ham was 94-70 in two seasons– including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2023. Hurley is 141-58 (.709)in six seasons as the UConn coach– and holds an NCAA tournament record of 12 consecutive double digit success. The son of Naismith Hall of Popularity coach Bob Hurley Sr.– for whom Hurley bet at well known St. Anthony High School of Jersey City, N.J.– Dan Hurley spent 9 years as a high school coach at St. Benedict’s Preparation before quickly restoring college programs at Wagner and Rhode Island. His older bro, Bobby, is the head coach at Arizona State.