After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers quickly parted ways with head coach Darvin Ham. The Lakers initially targeted Dan Hurley, the head coach of the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team, with a lucrative long-term contract. However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Hurley has declined the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer.
Ham’s Tenure with the Lakers
Darvin Ham signed a four-year contract with the Lakers in 2022. During his tenure, he led the team to a 90-74 record. Despite winning the mid-season tournament championship, the Lakers struggled in the regular season. They managed to defeat the Pelicans in the play-in tournament, securing the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs. However, they were eliminated by the defending champion Nuggets in the first round, leading to Ham and his coaching staff being dismissed.
Lakers’ Pursuit of Dan Hurley
According to ESPN, the Lakers had shifted their focus to Dan Hurley, rather than the rumored candidate, former NBA star J.J. Redick. Hurley, 51, has had an impressive coaching career at UConn, amassing a 141-58 record over six seasons. He led the team to back-to-back NCAA championships, defeating Purdue University to secure the second title. UConn became the first team to successfully defend their title since the University of Florida in 2006-2007.
Negotiations with Hurley
Reports indicated that Hurley had met with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss. They left a strong impression on Hurley, expressing their genuine interest in bringing him on board. Despite the Lakers’ lucrative offer, Hurley ultimately declined, prioritizing the opportunity to lead UConn to a historic third consecutive NCAA championship.
Ham’s New Role with the Bucks
Meanwhile, Darvin Ham has already secured a new position. Wojnarowski reported that Ham will join the Milwaukee Bucks as the lead assistant coach under Doc Rivers for the upcoming season.
Conclusion
The Lakers now face the challenge of finding a new head coach. Despite Hurley’s initial interest in the NBA, his commitment to UConn and the chance to make history in the NCAA proved too compelling to pass up. The search for the next leader of the Lakers continues.(Superace88)