Why the Lakers head-coaching job is losing its appeal

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing increasing ridicule after Dan Hurley turned down a six-year, $70M contract in favor of remaining at UConn. 

While the idea of chasing a third straight national title is a justified reason for Hurley to stay, his decision to pass on the purple and gold’s offer raises questions about the desirability of the position. 

Though the Lakers have hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy three times since 2009, the franchise has been more associated with disappointment in recent years. Since then, the organization has missed the playoffs seven times. The team has also gone through seven head coaches, and only two lasted three seasons during this period.

It’s no secret that the Laker organization prides itself on being in the contention picture, and anyone who mans the helm will be on a short leash. Pairing this high standard with a roster that contains LeBron James and Anthony Davis puts a coach in a demanding win-now situation. The aggressive desire for Los Angeles to contend almost immediately may be the reason that coaches are deterred from the position. 

Though James is one of the best the NBA has ever seen, working with him puts all eyes on any coach he has. The instance things go south, the front office is not going to want to point fingers at James or Davis. This leaves the head coach with the harsh reality of being first in line as a scapegoat. 

The Lakers' heavy emphasis on winning is consistent from season to season. Even when coaches have delivered and made the team competitive, the front office has demonstrated that it has a short-term memory relieving Frank Vogel two seasons after winning a championship and Darvin Ham one year removed from a Western Conference Finals appearance. 

With such high expectations for success and a very limited amount of time, it’s no wonder that coaches such as Dan Hurley would consider looking elsewhere. Despite its prestigious history, the Lakers' head coaching job is losing its value. 

The past few hires by the front office have made the process of finding a coach look like a plug-in approach, frantically experimenting with which fit is the best option. This, along with frequent roster changes, makes it seem like there is a lack of commitment to give any coach time and space to build a foundation, is enough to scare any candidate off.