Lakers next head coach odds: Dan Hurley rejects Lakers’ offer, odds in flux

National Basketball Association

Updated Jun. 6, 2024 4:59 p.m. ET

It has been over a month since the dismissal of Darvin Ham and the Los Angeles Lakers still need a head coach.

Although LeBron James had a stellar season and Anthony Davis played a career-high 76 games, the Lakers ended a disappointing year with a first-round exit that cost Ham his job.

For the past month, JJ Redick has dominated the betting markets as the favorite to become the Lakers head coach.

However, a bombshell report has shaken up the betting markets as of Thursday.

The Lakers have been in contact with UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley and are prepared to make him a massive, long-term contract offer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who said the Lakers have been “relentless” in their pursuit of Hurley.

With the recent news, DraftKings Sportsbook has taken down odds on the Lakers next coach. Prior to this decision, just this week, JJ Reddick was the favorite at -225, followed by James Borrego (+600) and Sam Cassell (+700).

Redick was a standout in college and a role player in the league for 15 seasons. He also has a podcast with James entitled “Mind the Game.”

Last week, The Athletic reported that James is “not involved” in the Lakers’ coaching hire. That same report said that the Lakers believe Redick is a “Pat Riley-like coaching prospect who could both help the franchise in the short term and lead it for years.”

Nick Wright says Dan Hurley would be a ‘great hire’ for Lakers, translate to the NBA

Since taking over at UConn before the 2018-19 season, Hurley has led the Huskies to a 141-58 record. Under Hurley’s leadership, the Huskies have become a national powerhouse once again, winning back-to-back national championships over the past two seasons.

With Hurley at the helm, Uconn has won every one of its NCAA tournament games in the last two seasons by at least 13 points.

This week on the “Mike Francesa Podcast,” Hurley said that he “aspires one day, if the right NBA situation were to come along, to really test myself … Where an organization wants a tone-setter to come in and instill a culture with young players and an organization that wants to pursue championships.”

Hurley signed a six-year, $32.1 million deal with UConn last year.

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