The Los Angeles Lakers were publicly embarrassed on Monday when their #1 coaching target, Dan Hurley, turned them down and chose to stay with the back-to-back national champion UConn Huskies.
In many ways, the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer to Hurley was a bit insulting.
I know that’s crazy to say, especially when it comes to someone who has never coached in the NBA before, but the fact of the matter is if the Lakers REALLY wanted Hurley, their offer didn’t reflect it.
Some Laker fans have grown annoyed with the franchise and their perceived arrogant ways when it comes to coaching contracts.
Along with the Boston Celtics, the Lakers are the biggest brand in the entire NBA, yet they’re sometimes hesitant to reach deep into their pockets.
That perceived cheapness has been a source of great annoyance for the fan base.
With Hurley back in Storrs, focused on a three-peat with the Huskies, LA’s attention now shifts elsewhere.
Their reported targets include JJ Redick, James Borrego, David Adelman and Sam Cassell (keep your eye on him).
Anthony Davis is rumored to prefer Borrego. Meanwhile, LeBron James is thought to be pushing for his buddy Redick.
Currently broadcasting the NBA Finals for ABC/ESPN, Redick has absolutely no coaching experience whatsoever.
While he’s an extremely sharp and intelligent basketball mind, his lack of experience is certainly worrisome.
Even more worrisome is the fact that he co-hosts a podcast with James. The optics of Redick getting the Lakers job would be horrific and lead many to think that James just wants a friend on the sidelines who won’t challenge him (or his son Bronny).
Enter Stephen A. Smith…
Although colleagues with Redick at ESPN, Smith had no problem diagnosing the concerns with the situation and telling it like it is.
Smith felt that James teaming up with Redick to host their “Mind the Game” podcast indirectly, yet directly, led to the firing of head coach Darvin Ham.
“JJ is a different situation because of the situation LeBron James and his camp created by doing that podcast in the middle of the season knowing that Darvin Ham was on the hot seat,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take.
“I don’t care what anybody says, that was a very egregious thing to do … I’m not talking about the podcast itself, I’m talking about the timing.”
Smith emphasized that his issue lies not with the content of the podcast, but with its timing.
“LeBron James is his own man,” he continued. “You’re wearing the Lakers uniform. You are a player. You know your coach is on the hot seat. And deciding to do a podcast about games, about basketball with specifics in mind, schemes, and how you coach…while your coach is on the hot seat and you knew the Lakers would more than likely be looking for a coach the next season, is one of the most egregious things we have seen a basketball player do to a coach, that is a fact.”
Strong words that are hard to argue with…
Smith suggested that the podcast could have waited until after the Lakers’ season ended, as launching it while Ham was still coaching for his job created a contentious situation.
The launch raised questions about whether James aimed to highlight Redick’s potential as a head coach, possibly setting the stage for him to replace Ham.
There are many who think that LeBron is the ultimate decision-maker in the organization.
That theory will be put to the test as the coaching search continues … If Redick ends up getting the job, we know that James would have had an awful lot to do with it.
What are your thoughts on Stephen A’s comments?
Do you agree that James doing the podcast with Redick in-season helped sabotage Ham? … Or are you not buying that theory?
At the end of the day, who will end up getting the Lakers job? … Will it be Redick???