JJ Redick contract: Will new Lakers coach make more or less than what was offered to UConn’s Dan Hurley?

The Los Angeles Lakers named JJ Redick as their new coach on Thursday, succeeding Darvin Ham who they let go after a first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference playoffs.

Lakers initially targeted Dan Hurley, but he declined their offer and chose to return to college coaching. This prompted the Lakers to pursue Redick for their head coaching position.

Comparing Lakers’ JJ Redick deal to UConn’s Dan Hurley offer

Former NBA guard JJ Redick has agreed to a four-year contract with the Lakers. The move followed Ham’s dismissal as coach. According to reports from The Athletic insiders Shams Charania, Sam Amick and Jovan Buha, the Lakers plan to pay Redick around $8 million per year over the life of his deal.

The Lakers got JJ Redick for a considerably more affordable deal than the one offered to Dan Hurley from UConn.

The contract reportedly awarded to Redick is said to be worth approximately $32 million. By comparison, the Lakers’ offer to Hurley was more than double that amount. They had prepared a six-year, $70 million contract for the college coach. Even if the proposed contract had a longer term, it would have given Hurley an annual payout of around $11 million.

READ ALSO : Report: JJ Reddick Rumored to Take Pistons Head Coaching Role Amid Lakers Speculation

Lakers eye long-term stability with Redick as head coach

The Athletic reports that the Lakers aim to achieve long-term stability by naming Redick as head coach. Like the lasting relationship between the Heat and Spoelstra since 2008, the Lakers claim to have found their long-term coach in Redick.

Although they have had three different coaches since 2020, they are confident that Redick, despite the daunting task of coaching LeBron James, is up to the challenge.

The Athletic cites how Redick, 39, meets many of the qualifications on the Lakers’ lengthy checklist for their new coach. He’s compared internally to a young Pat Riley, a potential coach who went from player to broadcaster to coach.

Confidence is high within the Los Angeles team that Redick could emulate Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr, becoming a culture builder who could grow with the franchise for over a decade.

In recent years, Redick has been a popular choice for coaching jobs. He is now tasked with leading the Lakers through the upcoming NBA draft and free agency period. The Lakers front office, unfazed by Redick’s lack of coaching experience, is confident in his potential to move the team forward.

READ ALSO : Report: Warriors offer Klay Thompson 2-year contract ahead of NBA free agency