Lakers Rumors: LeBron James Hasn't Talked to LA About Dan Hurley, JJ Redick amid Buzz
LeBron James has not spoken with the Los Angeles Lakers about head coaching candidates Dan Hurley and JJ Redick, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Per McMenamin, James "has made it clear" that the Lakers should do what is best for the organization and hire a coach that is expected to remain with the team after his playing career is over.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the Lakers were "zeroing in" on Redick, although ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the organization is preparing a "massive" contract offer for Hurley on Thursday.
While the Lakers' interest in Hurley was disclosed on Thursday, he's reportedly "been at the forefront" of the team's search from the beginning of the hiring process after Los Angeles parted ways with former coach Darvin Ham, per Wojnarowski.
Hurley has established himself as one of the top college coaches in the nation, leading Connecticut to consecutive national titles in each of the past two seasons. Since he took over the team in 2018, he's compiled a 141-58 record.
While James may not have direct input on the team's coaching search, he's still supportive of the current candidates. Wojnarowski noted that the 39-year-old is "impressed" with Hurley's "sophisticated offensive actions" and he has publicly expressed his support of the UConn coach on social media.
James' future with the organization is uncertain, as he currently has a player option for the 2024-25 season worth just over $51.4 million (per Spotrac). He must make a decision on the option by June 29.
However, the Lakers are reportedly willing to hand him a new contract in order to bring him back. Charania, Jovan Buha, and Sam Amick of The Athletic revealed on April 30 that Los Angeles would be willing to offer James a maximum three-year deal worth up to $164 million.
Despite the lack of communication between the Lakers and the NBA's all-time leading scorer regarding the team's top coaching options, James appears to be a fan of the final candidates.
