Hats off to all involved in the Lakers six-year, $70 million offer to Dan Hurley, which was rejected.
Lakers president and controlling owner Jeanie Buss operates under the assumption there's an intangible value to an association with her team which nonetheless can be manifested in dollar terms. How much? That's subject to debate, but the Lakers seem to think the figure is the difference between what their proposal was and what the Clippers pay Ty Lue (more) and what USC pays Lincoln Riley (more).
What was pitched as a "record-breaking offer" would've made Hurley the fifth highest-paid coach in Los Angeles behind the aforementioned Lue and Riley, with Rams coach Sean McVay and Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh filling out the rest. Throw in California's 13.3 percent income tax (now no longer offset by the SALT deduction) and the insane cost of living in the City of Angels and an offer that would make almost everyone else happy beyond their wildest dreams starts to seem distinctly mid, as the kids say. Apparently coaches want fuck-you money for the otherwise priceless opportunity to shepherd Taureen Prince.
For the Lakers, the misery is just beginning. Amid the wreckage lies the offer itself, which has somehow wriggled into the public domain. It's a self-own of near-Promethean proportions that will no doubt make subsequent negotiations awfully interesting. Here's guessing the first words out of an agent's mouth will be "$15 million per."
Lebron wanted Hurley badly, it seems, and now his team's cheap-assed offer will force them into overpaying for a legacy coach or rolling the dice on another Darvin Ham type or a famous podcaster like J.J. Redick. Sorry, King! ("Lebron on line two, Jeanie.")
The Lakers have a secure local TV deal and butts are always in seats, so maybe they DGAF. But this very public week-long romance with Hurley makes them look hapless and will have rollover effects for years to come. Cut the check, Jeanie - CUT THE CHECK!
They don't give out medals for fifth place, even in L.A.!
P.S. One more data point! Adjusted for inflation, Joe Torre's contract with the Dodgers was about what the Lakers offered Hurley, though the deal wasn't as long. This leaves the distinct possibility the Dodgers are paying Dave Roberts as much or more on a per annum basis than what was proposed to Hurley.
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