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[Saba Sports News] J.R. Smith took to X to warn UConn head coach and current Lakers head coach candidate Dan Hurley against accepting the position. Tagging Hurley in his post, Smith advised him not to be swayed by the Lakers’ current treatment and to reject the job.
“@danhurleyuconn don’t fall for it!” Smith posted. Smith, who signed with the Lakers in 2020 as a replacement for Avery Bradley, played limited minutes and was mostly a bench player during their championship run. Despite winning his second championship with the Lakers, Smith appears to have unresolved issues with the franchise, though he has not spoken about them publicly.
Dan Hurley has recently been linked to the Lakers’ head coaching position, with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reporting the team’s interest and potential offer. Hurley, a decorated college coach, led the UConn Huskies to consecutive NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024.
In recent conversations, the Lakers’ front office promised Hurley the opportunity to win multiple championships. LeBron James has also praised Hurley, indicating he would be happy with the hire. The Lakers aim to finalize the deal soon to involve Hurley in roster decisions during free agency and upcoming trades, potentially bringing the team back to championship contention next season.