Apr 8, 2024; Glendale, Ariz, U.S.; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley cuts down the cut after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers in the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on April 8, 2024.

The world woke up Thursday morning to news, not on the NBA Finals, which begins tonight, but that the Los Angeles Lakers are actively pursuing UConn head coach Dan Hurley.

ESPN NBA analyst Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the Lakers were actively pursuing the national championship head coach to the shock of many nationwide.

Woj says despite reports that JJ Redick was the leading candidate for the Lakers job, Hurley was at the top of their list from the get-go despite rumors to the contrary that Redick was theirs and LeBron James’s top choice.

“The Lakers have been in pursuit of Dan Hurley since their job opening. This has been their number one candidate and there are traction in this conversations. The Lakers are preparing a massive long-term offer. They consider the best coach available in the market.” Dan Hurley is listening, and he is listening closely right now. The Lakers are relentless right now in trying to close this deal,” Woj said.

Woj added that they see Hurley as their long-term coach beyond the LeBron James and Anthony Davis era, so they are serious about this. They know what is happening around the league and how many NBA teams are locking up their coaches to long-term deals.

The Lakers have lacked stability in the last few years and feel they would find that if they hired Hurley.

{First Take}

About Stacey Mickles

Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.