The Los Angeles Lakers have rejected an offer to bring in University of Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley to lead Los Angeles in the 2024-25 season. Hurley turned down an offer from the Purple and Gold on Monday to return to the University of Connecticut in pursuit of a third consecutive national championship.
according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN Hurley turned down a six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers, and even more damaging is the fact that he turned down an offer from Los Angeles in order to receive a much smaller amount from the University of Connecticut.
Hurley was set to make roughly $11.6 million a year with the Lakers, but just $5.3 million with the Huskies. Whether or not money was an issue, it’s clear the Lakers underbid Hurley. Reports surfaced last week that the Lakers were offering Hurley an eight-year contract worth roughly $100 million.
Wojnarowski’s reported $70 million is significantly lower, and as mentioned above, who knows if it was for the money. Ultimately, he may want to stay in the Northeast and pursue another NBA job when the time is right or if a job opens up in the Northeast.
But don’t take it lightly: This is a big loss for the Lakers, and they’ll now have to turn to other candidates like former front-runners JJ Redick, James Borrego and Sam Cassell.
The search for a new head coach continues, but no one knows what the future holds. Things look bleak again for the Lakers in purple and gold. This follows in the footsteps of the Lakers brass, led by owner Jeanie Buss.
Who will it be this time?
More on the Lakers: Did Connecticut’s Dan Hurley play against the Lakers?
