Critical Moments for the Lakers
LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers lost Dan Hurley on Monday, a missed opportunity that has left the organization in a state of confusion and introspection. The Lakers seem to have lost the thread in their quest for a new head coach, with Hurley turning down their six-year, $70 million offer.
A Predictable Outcome
It is not a shock that Hurley chose to chase a third straight NCAA championship instead. The Lakers' job may have been a poisoned chalice. There was no guarantee that a hard-charging, no-NBA-experience hire like Hurley would have fit well with LeBron James, who has exacting standards and a particular vision for how teams should operate. LeBron prefers to be a partner with a head coach rather than a subordinate, and this dynamic could have proven challenging.
The refusal has left the Lakers looking aimless. They seem unsure of what they want to become and have embarrassed themselves by pursuing a gamble that didn't pay off. Hurley, despite being a proven winner and a tactical mastermind, was indeed a gamble.
Public Spurning
The Lakers were spurned in a public and slow-moving manner, which has made them look small and cast a sheen of amateurism over the organization. This raises the question: why did they put themselves out there for a college coach who was not interested in the job? Hurley might have been a huge success in Los Angeles, similar to Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan who successfully transitioned from college to the NBA. However, past success does not always predict future results, and many remain skeptical of college head coaches at the NBA level.
The Aftermath for JJ Redick and James Borrego
JJ Redick and James Borrego have also been left in awkward positions. Redick had given off "I'll-confirm-my-new-head-coaching-gig vibes" on his podcast, making it even harder when he had to go on national TV and pretend he hadn’t been dumped for someone else. Meanwhile, Borrego found himself in a strange limbo-meets-rejection over the past few days.
As the Lakers’ two strongest candidates, Hurley and Redick, would have taken the team in very different directions. Hurley would have been an investment in a longer game, looking toward a post-LeBron reality and potentially turning three first-round picks into the groundwork for a youthful team. Conversely, Redick would have focused on LeBron’s waning years, emphasizing short-term competition and possibly trading those first-round picks for a star player.
A Slipshod Approach
The Lakers appear to be treating the hiring process like scrolling through Netflix, which is not a sound way to run an NBA organization. This slipshod approach can have serious consequences. Hurley turning down the Lakers has made it hard to find a winning candidate. The team cannot afford for LeBron to decide to go elsewhere, as he has plenty of leverage and might have a firmer say in who gets the coaching gig.
LeBron and the new head coach might push to trade for another star, which is fine if it’s part of a well-thought-out plan, not as an unintended result of being embarrassed by Hurley’s rejection. The Lakers chased a shocker in going after Hurley, but the biggest surprise now is that the team he passed on has no real plan and does not know its vision to win in the future.
Final Thoughts
The Lakers’ leadership needs to clarify their direction. They need to decide whether they are building for the short-term success around LeBron or looking to rejuvenate with young talent for the future. The organization’s prestige is at stake, and decisions made now will resonate for years to come. In an environment where every move is scrutinized, the Lakers must regain their footing quickly to avoid further embarrassment and ensure the team remains competitive on the NBA stage.
As it stands, the Lakers are caught between their past glories and an uncertain future, and they must navigate this period with more precision and foresight than they have shown recently.
Quotes
"I can do better."