JJ Redick getting into the Los Angeles Lakers seems like a far-fetched dream now. It is quite surprising how a discussed name has taken a beach seat for the head coach position. Rather, the UConn coach, Dan Hurley, might be the next one to take charge of the responsibility, reportedly. There is no update yet, but Hurley was supposed to meet with the Lakers front office on Friday. However, it might shatter LeBron James‘ strategy to land Redick, as there are speculations that the Lakers might offer Hurley a hefty sum of money for the role. Even NBA insider Jason Timpf highlighted the perks of having Hurley as the Lakers coach on the Hoops Tonight podcast.

When Timpf was asked about Hurley being a developing coach and if this move could draw LeBron James away, he responded, “I think LeBron is gonna stay and play two more seasons. I think Dan Hurley represents the best of both worlds here because, in the post-LeBron phase, you’ve got excellent coach in scouting and development.” Jason aptly pointed out what the Lakers need now, as it is not just about LeBron but also about the future of the Lakers after him. The purple and gold jerseys need someone visionary to develop them in the post-LeBron era.

The frontier that the Lakers need now is not just focused on the Championship environment but also a tactical mind. Timpf pointed out how Hurley possesses the skills as he said, “He’s a great tactician for the particular roster. He with UConn had a lot of success generating space with a team having lot of non-shooters on the floor a lot specifically through a off-ball action.” Expecting the same results as Hurley’s Lakers spree, Dan might maintain a great ball and player movement, according to Timpf.

Is it only space generation that pulled LeBron James and Co. back from the playoffs?

In a way, NBA insider Jason Timpf might be right about the Lakers’ problem with creating spaces on the floor. The lack of 3-point shooting is what is taking a toll on the scoreboard for LeBron James and Co. The main culprits of this fault might be Austin Reaves, Christian Wood, and Taurean Prince. Just 31.6% shooting from Reaves this year, followed by 32.5% and 26.9% shooting from Prince and Wood, has an equal contribution to the underwhelming performance of the Lakers.

If the defense tightens on the volume of three shooters, the chances of a hoop become extremely low. Moreover, it also results in the extra run-and-gun on the floor due to the lack of large score hoops. Ultimately, it exhausts the team by the end of the fourth quarter. Therefore, when it is the deciding time, the team crumbles due to the stamina factor. For now, LeBron is doing his job well from the floor, but he needs support from all sides.

If the Lakers do not finish their three-pointer haul at the draft this June, then the Championship goal might get close this year as well. LeBron’s journey with the purple and golden jerseys is not expected to be long. Therefore, the front office must figure out a way to balance the roster with young and excellent role-players. After that, Hurley might get LeBron James and Co. what they have been yearning for for so long: the Championship.