There’s a lot going on with the Los Angeles Lakers right now – the team is trying to land Dan Hurley as the next head coach, LeBron James has an opt-out and is no sure thing to return next season, and the team has to prepare for the NBA Draft later this month.
The idea of Bronny joining his father with the Lakers has been out there for some time, and it’s even picking up steam with the rumors surrounding Hurley.
The Huskies have been on top of the collegiate basketball world over the past two seasons, and Hurley’s stock has skyrocketed accordingly. But beyond his deep knowledge of game planning and designing plays, the Lakers might be looking to bring Hurley in for his ability to develop young talent, which would work well should the team decide to choose Bronny on draft night.
“You’re gonna have to grow your young players. The idea of Bronny James in the Lakers; who better, potentially, than Dan Hurley, to be the development coach to lead his growth? [He’s a] coach who’s really dominated the college sport. You talk about Xs and Os acumen, player development… from day one of this Lakers search, it has been Dan Hurley,” Adrian Wojnarowski said via UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio on ESPN.
Of course, bringing LeBron James’ oldest son does come with risk; the Lakers have the 17th and 56th overall selections for the upcoming draft, and the last thing the Lakers would want is to bring Bronny in but fail to put him in a position where he could develop properly.
The news of the Lakers’ significant interest in Hurley now calls into question what happens — or happened — with JJ Redick. The 15-year NBA veteran and current broadcaster/podcaster has been mentioned repeatedly as a target for LA, one that the franchise was reportedly “zeroing in” on before Redick blasted that rumor himself.
With James and Redick’s relationship so close after starting a podcast together (and playing against each other in the NBA for over a decade), how does this news of Hurley affect where the Lakers go forward with their superstar? A lot of reactions to the Hurley news suggested that it was a response to the likelihood that James, who can enter unrestricted free agency this offseason, will leave Los Angeles.
No matter what happens with the team, one thing is for certain, it’s going to be yet another eventful offseason in Laker-land.