The Lakers' Coaching Conundrum: An Embarrassing Public Rejection
LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers lost Dan Hurley on Monday. The Lakers seem to have lost the thread entirely. Hurley turned down the Lakers' six-year, $70 million offer, a move that, while not entirely shocking, has significant implications for the franchise.
A Risk That Didn't Pay Off
Hurley, who has the opportunity to chase a third straight NCAA championship, chose to remain in collegiate basketball. The Lakers' offer was evidently not enticing enough to sway him. In hindsight, the job might have been a poisoned chalice for someone like Hurley, with no NBA coaching experience. There's no guarantee that a hard-charging, inexperienced hire would mesh well with LeBron James, a player with exacting standards and strong opinions on team operations.
LeBron prefers to be a partner with a head coach rather than a subordinate, and the Lakers' front office seemed to overlook this crucial dynamic in their dogged pursuit of Hurley.
Reflecting on the Lakers’ Strategy
The Lakers appear directionless. The public and slow-moving nature of their pursuit of Hurley only served to make an already disorganized approach look amateurish. Why would they publicly chase a college coach who ultimately didn't want the job? This rejection leaves the Lakers not only spurned but also smaller in stature, casting a sheen of amateurism over the whole ordeal.
Hurley, despite being a gamble, could have been a huge success in Los Angeles. He is, after all, a proven winner whose tactical acumen impressed scouts and front office personnel. Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan made the successful leap from college basketball to NBA coaching; Hurley might have done the same. However, skepticism about college coaches moving to the NBA is widespread.
Implications for the Lakers' Future
Getting turned down publicly is one thing; being the Lakers and turned down by a college coach is another. JJ Redick must feel particularly stung. Redick had been exuding "I'll-confirm-my-new-head-coaching-gig vibes" on his podcast. Having to face the public eye while pretending he wasn’t passed over must have been difficult. James Borrego found himself in a bizarre limbo, left in the wake of the Lakers' failed pursuit of Hurley.
The two strongest candidates for the Lakers' coaching position couldn't have been more different. Hurley represented an investment in the longer game, while Redick symbolized a focus on LeBron's waning years. Hurley might look toward a post-LeBron reality, using three first-round picks to lay the groundwork for a youthful team. Conversely, Redick might trade those same picks for a star player to compete in the short term.
The Need for a Clear Vision
These are two vastly different visions for the team’s future. The Lakers, however, seem to be operating as though hiring an NBA head coach is akin to scrolling through Netflix – a lackadaisical approach that is anything but sound for running a professional sports organization. The consequences of such a slipshod method are clear. Hurley’s rejection makes finding a winning candidate even more challenging.
The Lakers cannot afford to have LeBron decide to take his talents elsewhere. LeBron holds considerable leverage and could have a significant say in who gets the coaching job. Moreover, LeBron and the new coach might push to trade for another star player – a reasonable plan if it’s well thought out, but disastrous if it’s an unintended consequence of Hurley’s rejection.
The Lakers' pursuit of Hurley was a shocker, but the true surprise lies in the fact that the team Hurley passed on seems to lack a cohesive plan. The Lakers' front office appears uncertain of its vision, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning how the team intends to win now and in the future.
As the Lakers continue their search, one thing is clear: The franchise needs to establish a clear strategy and make rational, well-considered decisions to regain a foothold in the competitive NBA landscape. The embarrassment from the failed chase of Hurley should serve as a lesson in the importance of clarity and coherence when making crucial hiring decisions.