Lakers Next Head Coach Odds: Hurley’s Rejection Puts Redick in Pole Position

Last week, the stunning news emerged that the Los Angeles Lakers were in hot pursuit of UConn head coach Dan Hurley and were preparing to make him a big-money offer to make him leave the college ranks and move to the NBA.

Today, an even more astonishing development unfolded as Hurley made the bold choice to lead UConn towards a remarkable third consecutive national championship, declining a lucrative six-year, $70 million proposal from a prestigious and accomplished NBA team.

Although there were no guarantees that Hurley would accept the offer, the mention of such significant numbers led to widespread anticipation of a different result.

As the Lakers continue their search for a new head coach, three significant questions arise for contemplation:

• What was the reason for Hurley rejecting the Lakers?
• Was it a wise choice for Hurley to decline the Lakers offer?
• Now that Hurley is no longer in the picture, who will the Lakers choose as their next head coach?

To begin with, let us examine the most recent odds regarding who will be selected to take up the hot seat once the search concludes.

Los Angeles Lakers Next Head Coach Odds

• JJ Redick, former NBA player and current analyst, has a negative five hundred rating.
• James Borrego, a former head coach for the Charlotte Hornets, is currently serving as an assistant for the New Orleans Pelicans.
• Sam Cassell, a former NBA player, currently serves as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, with an impressive track record in the sport.
• The Los Angeles Clippers head coach, Tyronn Lue, has odds of +1600.
• Chris Quinn, a former NBA player, is currently serving as an assistant for the Miami Heat.
• Kenny Atkinson, the former Brooklyn Nets head coach and current assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, has odds of +1800.
• David Adelman, the assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets and the son of the legendary Hall of Fame head coach Rick Adelman, has odds of +1800.

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Why Did Dan Hurley Turn Down the Lakers?

Back in the day, the Lakers faced a familiar situation. In 2004, they pursued Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski after parting ways with Phil Jackson following their defeat in the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons.

Similar to Hurley, he made the decision to stay at Duke, ultimately concluding his career in 2022 with an outstanding record of 1,129 victories and five national championships. Additionally, he achieved great success as the head coach of the USA men’s basketball team, guiding them to three Olympic gold medals (in 2008, 2012, and 2016) and two FIBA World Cup titles (in 2010 and 2014).

There are no guarantees that Hurley will reach or approach Coach K’s status by spurning the Lakers to remain at UConn. But he has the resources and support, and those resources are unlikely to change soon, even in the ever-evolving world of college basketball.

Hurley’s Huskies achieved a remarkable feat this season by becoming the first team since Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007 to win consecutive national championships.

In the upcoming season, his goal will be to achieve a rare three-peat in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. However, his team will undergo significant changes. Notably, Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton, and Cam Spencer, who were among the team’s top five scorers, have moved on to the professional leagues. As a result, the only remaining key player from the previous season is junior-to-be Alex Karaban. Karaban has an impressive track record, having started in 77 out of 78 games over two seasons and averaging 13.3 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game last year.

But the Huskies suffered multiple notable losses after their 2023 title, only to be the last team standing again in 2024. With a wealth of returning talent and potential led by Karaban, a strong 2024 recruiting class, and transfer portal additions Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and Tarris Reed Jr. (Michigan), UConn will once again be among the top March Madness favorites next season.

Did Hurley Make the Right Decision?

Hurley has no reason to leave UConn as they are expected to continue their success. Only a truly exceptional opportunity would tempt him away. While that chance might arise with the Lakers in the future, it seems UConn is still in the early stages of their journey, so it’s reasonable for him to stay committed.

However, was his choice the correct one?

Declining the chance to both earn a significant amount of money and coach LeBron James and Anthony Davis, even during the later stages of their careers, should not be taken lightly.

Staying in Storrs is a far superior choice compared to Los Angeles or even relocating to Lexington, Kentucky, which was speculated as a potential option after John Calipari’s departure for Arkansas in April.

This is not the ideal time to lead the Lakers.

The Western Conference is abundantly stacked, and it is unlikely to undergo any significant changes in the near future.

Also, the Lakers have a vacancy because they parted ways with Darvin Ham after only two seasons. Ham replaced Frank Vogel just two seasons after Vogel led the Lakers to their 17^th NBA Finals win.

After Jackson’s second term with the team concluded in 2011, the Lakers have witnessed six different head coaches. Out of the six, Luke Walton holds the record for the most games coached, leading the team for 246 regular season games between 2016 and 2019.

While it may not be a poisoned chalice, it is undeniably a vessel one should approach with great care.

Lastly, and arguably of utmost significance, the roster is plagued with uncertainties. While Hurley was presented with a six-year agreement, it remains unclear who his colleagues would be towards the later stages or even the midpoint of the contract. Presently, there are far too many variables that are yet to be determined.

Who Will the Lakers Hire as Head Coach?

After Hurley’s unavailability, the spotlight once again falls on JJ Redick, the ESPN analyst and veteran NBA player who was previously seen as the frontrunner prior to the Hurley situation coming to light.

Redick remains the frontrunner yet again, but there is uncertainty surrounding whether he will be presented with an offer. Moreover, even if an offer is extended, it remains uncertain whether he will accept it.

The former Duke star and 2006 NBA Draft first-round pick has no coaching experience on this level, but with his basketball acumen, Redick appears destined to be a head coach at some point. Hiring him would be risky for a franchise trying to win right now, but the Lakers would be getting him before someone else could bag him and benefit.

If the search extends past Redick, the next potential option seems to be former Hornets coach Borrego. During his tenure with the Hornets from 2018 to 2022, Borrego achieved a record of 138-163 but did not secure any playoff appearances.

Despite Redick’s limited coaching experience, it should not automatically disqualify him from the job. Similarly, Borrego’s lack of success with the Hornets should not disqualify him either, especially when considering the challenging circumstances surrounding the franchise during his tenure.

Is it possible that Cassell, a highly accomplished three-time NBA champion and experienced assistant coach for the Wizards, Clippers, 76ers, and Celtics, will finally have the opportunity to become a head coach? He has undoubtedly earned this chance, but it seems unlikely that he will be considered for the Lakers job, given the current odds.