Former NBA player J.R. Smith sent a warning message to Dan Hurley regarding the offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to become their next head coach. Smith advised Hurley not to fall for it in a tweet, although he mistakenly tagged the wrong account. The Lakers are reportedly targeting Hurley, who currently serves as the head coach of the UConn men's basketball team.

The Lakers fired their previous head coach, Darvin Ham, and are now in search of a new leader for their team. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the Lakers' interest in Hurley, which has raised eyebrows in the basketball world.

Smith's warning carries weight, as he played alongside LeBron James for over three years in Cleveland and briefly joined James on the Lakers during the 2019-20 season. Smith's tweet suggests that there may be underlying issues or challenges within the Lakers organization that could make the coaching position less desirable than it appears.

The constant turnover of coaches within the Lakers franchise is also a point of concern. In the past 15 years, the team has had seven different head coaches, highlighting a lack of stability and consistent leadership.

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, who crossed paths with the Lakers' coaching job himself, offered his thoughts on Hurley's potential decision. He believes that Hurley may ultimately choose to reject the offer, citing the strong influence of his father, Bob Hurley Sr., and his wife, Andrea, in his life. Pitino also mentioned that while Hurley may consider pursuing a coaching career in the NBA in the future, he does not believe Hurley will accept the Lakers' offer at this time.

As the Lakers await Hurley's decision, the clock is ticking for LeBron James, who has a player option that could pay him approximately $51 million for the 2024-25 season. James must choose whether to exercise or opt out of this option by the end of the month.

It remains to be seen whether Hurley will be swayed by Smith's warning, the Lakers' track record, or the potential allure of coaching in the NBA. Fans and analysts will be eagerly awaiting Hurley's decision as the Lakers continue their search for the next head coach to lead their storied franchise.