The Los Angeles Lakers are targeting UConn’s Dan Hurley to be the franchise’s next head coach.
Hurley has stated in previous interviews that he has a desire to coach in the NBA.
ESPN reports that the Lakers have had several interviews with other candidates, including Charlotte Hornets assistant James Borrego, J.J. Redick, Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell and Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
The Los Angeles Lakers are targeting UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley as the franchise’s next coach and are preparing a massive, long-term contract offer to bring the back-to-back NCAA national champion to the NBA, sources told ESPN.
The Lakers have had preliminary contact with Hurley and the sides are planning to escalate discussions in the coming days, sources told ESPN. Hurley has been at the forefront of the Lakers’ search from the beginning of the process, even while the organization has done its due diligence interviewing several other candidates, sources said.
Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and governor Jeanie Buss are eager to formally discuss with Hurley their vision of marrying his dominant program — built upon both his tactical acumen and elite player development — with the storied Lakers brand, sources said.
