The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a head coaching search after a Hail Mary attempt to acquire University of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley fell through.
“The Lakers don’t have that great a job,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on Tuesday’s “Get Up.” “They’re a play-in team almost every year.”
Brian Windhorst writes for ESPN “The Lakers are embarrassed” that Hurley decided to stay in Connecticut, he said, adding that he wasn’t attracted to any of the candidates he’s spoken to so far.
Pelicans assistant James Borrego and ESPN analyst JJ Redick appear to be the front-runners to fill the vacancy.
Redick is expected to be a front-runner again, Jovan Buha of The Athletic The Lakers are calling him their “top choice” but also pointing out that they need to “go back and try to repair the relationship.”
Meanwhile, Borrego is the only Lakers candidate to have interviewed for the job twice.
Windhorst then added on “Get Up” that Borrego is like a centerpiece for the Cavaliers.
Before taking up coaching full-time, Redick focused on broadcasting the NBA Finals for ESPN.
Redick has long been expected to compete for the Cavaliers head coaching job, but if Windhorst’s speculation is correct, Los Angeles is the only job left for him.
Athletic Reported by Shams Charania Redick was the Lakers’ top choice from the start, while Hurley “was not the Lakers’ first choice.”
“League officials are thinking this is a Hail Mary offer for him,” Charania said. “Six years, $70 million, and at the end of the day, Dan Hurley chose not to leave and stay for $20 million less.”
Charania added that the interest may not have been genuine, as Hurley may have been trying to gain an advantage in contract negotiations with the University of Connecticut Huskies.
Besides Borrego and Redick, the Lakers could also try to acquire former Villanova coach Jay Wright, who built a two-time championship team featuring former Knicks and Nets stars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo.
Kenny Atkinson, David Adelman and Sam Cassell were also reportedly in the running before Hurley expressed interest and could receive serious consideration as the field begins to dry up.
The NBA Draft is just over two weeks away on June 26, but free agency begins on July 1 and LeBron James will be keeping an eye on the roster as it looks set to require some upgrades.
