Why would Dan Hurley turn down the Lakers to stay at UConn? Surprising, perhaps, but it makes sense.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that the Los Angeles Lakers had targeted UConn's Dan Hurley as their next head coach, two months after he led the Huskies to their second straight national title and sixth championship in 25 years. Twenty years ago, the Lakers made a similar proposal to Mike Krzyzewski, who turned down the offer to remain at Duke. The franchise received the same response from Hurley on Monday.

The UConn Huskies coach announced that he had decided to stay in Storrs, Connecticut, and continue his quest for a third consecutive NCAA title and the spoils of being recognized as the best coach in men's college basketball. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has negotiated deals with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and other basketball notables. But the franchise failed to pry Hurley from his prestigious position in the college ranks, a disappointment for the Lakers and a monumental development for the future of UConn men's basketball.

Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello explain why Hurley stayed, what it means for UConn's three-time chances and more.

How surprised are you that Hurley stayed at UConn?

Borzello: It amazes me from the standpoint that the Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in American sports, led by one of the greatest players to ever play basketball. Had he made his decision shortly after meeting with Lakers executives and ownership, it would have been surprising to see him reject it. But once he returned to the East Coast and progress on the decision-making began to stretch into Sunday and then into Monday, it was less surprising to see him stay at UConn. It's a lot harder to say “I'm leaving” when you have to go to the practice facility (with UConn legends jerseys on the walls and national championship trophies in the lobby) and tell it to the team you created to chase. a third consecutive title.

Medical calf: I would have been more surprised on Friday or Saturday. But I'm less surprised now that I know they offered him a six-year, $70 million contract. Yes, it's a substantial offer, but I'm less surprised given that the Lakers didn't put a massive eight-figure deal on the table. Still, it was an opportunity to coach one of the sport's storied franchises, a team that could be coached by future Hall of Famers Davis and James next season. I'm also not sure how far Hurley can go at UConn after all of his success. But I think he can be authentic at UConn in a way that he couldn't be in the NBA. Still, it's the Lakers. Few have turned down an offer from a member of the Buss family, so this is surprising.

A statement from UConn men's basketball head coach Dan Hurley: pic.twitter.com/16e77ykbVp

— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) June 10, 2024

What does this mean for UConn's chances of a three-peat?

Borzello: The search for something that hasn't been done in more than 50 years in men's college basketball is officially back on. Had Hurley left, UConn likely would have been left with a first-time head coach and a depleted roster. It would have been an offseason full of questions and a season full of uncertainty. Instead, the UConn program and its fan base will be more motivated than ever. Hurley was already a Huskies legend. Two national titles will be enough to achieve it. But now that he's rejected Kentucky and the Los Angeles Lakers? The fans will support him to the maximum. With Alex Karaban returning and Liam McNeeley and Aidan Mahaney entering the fold, there is a top five list in Storrs. And Hurley is back to lead the way, too.

Medical calf: It makes them real. Karaban retired from the NBA and returned to UConn to try to achieve a streak that had not been achieved since John Wooden's UCLA teams in the 1960s and 1970s. Only a handful of teams have won back-to-back crowns, but UConn has a real opportunity. However, it appears that Kansas has the best team in the country entering the season. And Alabama is also equipped for another Final Four. Houston, North Carolina, Duke, Iowa State and others are valid contenders. But Karaban, along with McNeeley, a top-10 recruit, and Mahaney, a transfer from Saint Mary's, could lead this program to a seventh national title in 26 years and extend a streak unprecedented in the recent history of men's college basketball. .

What is the biggest question mark for the Huskies?

Borzello: Over the past two years, UConn has dominated its opponents in several ways. The Huskies have overwhelmed them in the paint on both ends of the floor, received high-level point guard play when needed and have seamlessly integrated the newcomers with a core of returning players. All of those things are, at the very least, up in the air right now. Hassan Diarra has to replace Tristen Newton at the point of attack. Donovan Clingan replaced Adama Sanogo last season and UConn improved even more on the interior; Can Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed replicate that production? And will UConn's freshmen and transfers hit the ground running in the Stephon Castle and Cam Spencer way? McNeeley and Mahaney will have a lot on their shoulders from day one.

The Huskies' offense is another thing to monitor. Last season it worked wonderfully, a squad full of shots and altruism, each player knew their role. It could take time to reach that level again.

Medical calf: It's the same question Hurley's team faced a year ago: How do you replace lost talent? Clingan and Castle are projected lottery picks in this summer's NBA draft. Newton, the NCAA tournament's most outstanding player, also left. In total, four of the team's five top scorers have left. Entering last season, three of the top five scorers from the 2022-23 national title run had returned.

But Hurley also has players, like Samson Johnson, who have been waiting for opportunities to shine. He has a lot of talent and some veterans, like Diarra, also on the roster. Additionally, Hurley has shown that he knows how to hit the reset button. However, the loss of elite talent is undeniable.

What will the future look like at UConn if Hurley stays long-term?

Borzello: With Hurley turning down the biggest job in college basketball and one of the biggest sports franchises in the span of two months, it appears he'll be in Storrs for the foreseeable future. Had he left, concerns about UConn's fragile place in the changing landscape of college sports might have become more serious. Because the Big East is not one of the big football conferences, there are questions about how it will keep up with the revenue-sharing model. The league simply doesn't have the television money of the Big Ten and the SEC. But Hurley staying is a statement of his confidence that UConn will be able to compete at the highest level. And it's not a bad recruiting tool either.

Medical calf: Many people have compared this to Krzyzewski's decision to return to Duke after the Lakers offered him a huge deal 20 years ago, but Coach K returned to a different college landscape. Every team in the country now has to rebuild every season due to the proliferation of the transfer portal. And the unknowns looming with revenue sharing could also complicate that ambition. Hurley, right now, can walk into the house of any recruit in the country and tell them that he turned down both Kentucky and the Lakers in the same offseason.

But the revenue-sharing models of the future will favor the wealthiest schools in the wealthiest leagues. UConn has been a candidate for potential expansion efforts by power conferences in the past, and a move by the school in the coming years could have implications for men's basketball and the rest of the athletic department. If the school remains in the Big East, the Huskies could face disadvantages without the television money those schools enjoy.

Hurley can continue to build winners off of his pedigree, legacy and reputation. However, the next decade could show that those elements mean less than ever, which could complicate Hurley's reign.

Who could be the next college coach to receive an NBA offer and why?

Medical calf: I'll go with Nate Oats, who has built an Alabama Crimson Tide team with national title aspirations in 2024-25. His style fits the modern NBA's approach to the game. All of his players are versatile. He doesn't believe in mid-range shots and is committed to the idea that a great offense will beat a great defense. Oats could make a perfect transition (on paper) to the NBA because of the way he approaches the game. He also has enough personality to handle that element of the transition.

Borzello: I'm with Myron on this one. Oats has developed arguably the most modern offense in high-level basketball in recent years, completely eliminating mid-range jumpers and focusing on spacing the floor and shooting a high volume of 3-pointers and shots at the rim. From both an X's and Os' and personality standpoint, he makes the most sense as someone who could make the jump. Another name that catches my attention is Tommy Lloyd from Arizona. Sources who watched Lloyd coach USA Basketball at this month's FIBA ​​U18 AmeriCup were impressed with his ability to potentially coach at the next level.