Don’t think for a moment that Man of the Hour Dan Hurley’s decision to stay with the University of Connecticut effectively moves the spotlight away from the Lakers. Their search for a new head coach will continue to take on a circus atmosphere — in part because any vacancy in the National Basketball Association merits headlines, and in far larger measure because, well, anything they do is magnified. For reasons both obvious and obfuscated, glitz and glamour accompany their every move.
Perhaps the intense scrutiny that will invariably come with being part of the Lakers soured Hurley on the opportunity. The offer dangled in front of him — reportedly a whopping $70 million over six years — was certainly no joke, but neither were the heightened expectations and the circumstances accompanying its acceptance. It’s human nature to resist change, and especially if the tradeoffs serve to amp up the uncertainty. Leaving UConn would have meant turning his back on the chance to make history. And the big bucks were coming his way, anyway.
In the face of Hurley’s rejection, not a few quarters have speculated that he simply strung the Lakers along for the sole purpose of raising his value with UConn. Which may well be true. All things considered, however, it’s more likely that he deems a rare Division I men’s three-peat to be the more compelling challenge. For all the pitfalls of college hoops in the era of the transfer window and the ascendancy of the individual over the collective, he remains well positioned to achieve what only the legendary John Wooden has.
In any case, the Lakers are back to square one in their quest for stability. It may not be evident to many, but they’re looking for more than just a bench tactician. They’re out to reframe their reputation as unreasonable employers. It’s no coincidence that seven minds have occupied the hot seat since Hall of Famer Phil Jackson left in 2011, and they’re bent on finally getting the eighth right. They won’t know if they do on the day of the hiring, so they need to both trust the process and swing for the fences. Controlled boldness comes with risk — and, as it so happens, also invites success.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
