The Lakers' Gambit: A Case Study in Mismanagement
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers' pursuit of Dan Hurley has ended in disappointment. On Monday, Hurley turned down a six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers, leaving the team's management scrambling to find a new direction.
The Hurley Rejection
The decision by Hurley, a proven winner with back-to-back NCAA championships under his belt, to stay put and chase a third title is not surprising. The allure of remaining in the college ranks, where Hurley has found considerable success, outweighed the risks associated with jumping to the NBA, especially to an organization as tumultuous as the Lakers.
The Lakers' offer to Hurley always seemed like a gamble. The prospect of a hard-charging, no-NBA-experience hire fitting well with LeBron James was uncertain at best. LeBron, who prefers to be a partner with his head coach rather than a subordinate, has exacting standards and a specific vision of how teams should operate. The uncertainty around whether Hurley would meet these standards contributed to his decision to decline the offer.
A Poisoned Chalice
The Lakers' head coaching job may have been a poisoned chalice from the start. The organization's seeming lack of direction and understanding of its identity has been exposed through this high-profile rejection. The slow, public nature of Hurley's decision to turn down the offer only accentuates the perception that the Lakers are floundering.
The chase for Hurley can be seen as an embarrassing misstep for the Lakers, making the organization appear small and amateurish. It raises questions about why they pursued a college coach so vigorously when there was no guarantee he wanted the job. This miscalculation has now left the Lakers in a precarious situation.
The Aftermath
The aftermath of Hurley's rejection has placed other candidates and the organization's future in a strange limbo. JJ Redick, who appeared confident on his podcast that he would secure the head coaching gig, must now contend with the reality of being a backup plan. Similarly, James Borrego has been left in an awkward position, neither fully embraced nor entirely dismissed.
The Lakers' approach to hiring a head coach seems more akin to scrolling through Netflix: casual, indecisive, and without a coherent strategy. This slipshod method of management is not befitting a storied NBA franchise and could have serious repercussions for the team's future.
Different Visions
In their search for a head coach, the Lakers considered two very different visions: Hurley's long-term planning versus Redick's short-term focus on LeBron's remaining years. Hurley represents an investment in a future post-LeBron era, where three first-round picks could be used to build a youthful team. In contrast, Redick would likely trade those picks for a star player to immediately enhance the team’s competitiveness during LeBron's final seasons.
This dichotomy underscores the Lakers' broader identity crisis. The organization doesn't seem to know what it wants to become. The unsuccessful pursuit of Hurley has laid bare the team's lack of a clear, cohesive vision.
The LeBron Factor
Complicating matters further is LeBron James' leverage over the situation. The Lakers cannot afford to alienate their star player, who might decide to go elsewhere if the coaching hire does not meet his expectations. LeBron's substantial influence could ultimately decide who gets the head coaching job, and he and the new coach could push the organization to trade for another star player.
If such a move is part of a well-thought-out plan, it could work. But if it’s an unintended consequence of the embarrassment from Hurley's rejection, it becomes another manifestation of the Lakers' mismanagement.
Moving Forward
The Lakers' gamble on Hurley has not only failed but also underscored the organization's broader issues. With no clear vision or strategy, the team now faces the daunting task of finding a winning candidate who can navigate the complex dynamics within the franchise.
The biggest surprise is not that Hurley passed on the Lakers but that the team he declined lacks a real plan for future success. To move forward, the Lakers must develop a coherent strategy, commit to a vision, and execute their plans with precision and professionalism. Anything less will see them continue to flounder and fail in the highly competitive NBA landscape.