Final week, the Lakers made the information headlines as they have been hoping to rent UConn’s Dan Hurley as their subsequent head coach, however negotiations lastly got here to an finish because the tactician determined to remain put in Connecticut. The purple and gold have struggled to search out a super candidate for the job ever since they sacked Darvin Ham two months in the past.
Nevertheless, one of many fundamental targets has been JJ Redick, who appears to be a proper match for the membership however lacks expertise in teaching the large leagues. Based on ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the previous athlete will lastly obtain his first formal interview because the crew hopes to rent somebody earlier than the upcoming NBA Draft.
“After a dogged pursuit of Hurley over previous weeks, Lakers will regroup and resume bringing in candidates for interviews with hope of hiring a coach by Draft, sources mentioned. James Borrego is anticipated to stay a part of group and Lakers may do their first formal interview with JJ Redick,” the insider wrote.
Our man @ShamsCharania pulled as much as #InsideTheAssociation on @Stadium to remind everybody that it’s all the time been JJ Redick for the Lakers head teaching job.
…and never Dan Hurley. pic.twitter.com/1dbGiDy5JB
— Camron Smith (@camronsmith) June 11, 2024
As Redick has already been interviewed by the Hornets, he’s admitted to the press that he’s itching to get again to the NBA as a coach. Throughout final month’s look on the Highway Trippin’ podcast, he expressed this sentiment. “I’m presently a broadcaster and a podcast host of a number of podcasts and actually simply having fun with these issues,” JJ began out.
“Very lucky to be doings this,” he added. “The teaching factor… Channing and RJ I’d guess that there’s part of you, and it’s a really, very, small a part of me that misses enjoying. Like, really enjoying basketball. There’s a small a part of me that misses capturing a basketball or coming off a display screen and capturing. However it’s a small half.”
Channing Frye, one in every of his closest associates, has taken to mic to advise him on this chance. Based on the previous basketball athlete, guiding this L.A. membership is a “loss of life sentence,” and JJ shouldn’t take his probabilities.
“To be sincere, I feel it’s a loss of life sentence,” he informed NBA TV a while in the past. “I feel he’s leaping on a grenade. I do know for a undeniable fact that JJ is a coach, however taking that job — I simply don’t know — that’s so much. You’re leaping in and never solely teaching within the NBA, if you haven’t ever achieved that earlier than, however you’re additionally teaching Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and LeBron James. How have you learnt time and rating conditions? This isn’t a ‘let’s be taught your means by way of’ job. I wouldn’t take that job.”
Hurley launched assertion after turning down Lakers’ six-year, $70 million provide to stay with UConn
Though Dan Hurley had signed a six-year extension with the Huskies in 2023, he nonetheless entertained the potential of accepting this job from Los Angeles, as they’re determined to search out Darvin Ham’s alternative.
Nevertheless, the back-to-back nationwide champion introduced this Tuesday that he determined to remain put and reject a reported six-year, $70 million deal. Shortly after his choice went public, he issued a press release regarding this course of.
“I’m humbled by this whole expertise,” Hurley expressed. “On the finish of the day, I’m extraordinarily pleased with the championship tradition we’ve constructed at Connecticut. We met as a crew earlier than at the moment’s exercise and our focus proper now’s on getting higher this summer season and connecting as a crew as we proceed to pursue championships.”
Everybody at UConn is extraordinarily reassured to listen to this information, as mentioned finest by their Director of Athletics David Benedict. “We thrilled that Dan Hurley has made the choice to remain at UConn and proceed constructing upon our championship custom,” he mentioned.
