The Lakers had intended to bring Hurley on board as their new head coach, offering him a staggering six-year, $70 million deal. However, Hurley declined the offer and has now signed a six-year, $50 million contract extension with UConn.

The news of Hurley's decision comes as a blow to the Lakers organization, who were hoping to secure a strong leader for their team while building a formidable roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Hurley's coaching prowess, coupled with his success at UConn, made him an appealing candidate for the Lakers.

Prior to signing the extension, Hurley was reportedly looking to leverage the Lakers' offer to negotiate a larger deal with UConn. With the final contract amounting to $20 million less than what the Lakers had presented, it is clear that Hurley prioritized his commitment to UConn and chasing a third consecutive national title.

This unexpected development will surely disappoint the Lakers fanbase, who were expecting a big-name coach like Hurley to take the helm of their team. The fact that Hurley stayed in UConn for a comparable or even more lucrative deal than the Lakers' offer will undoubtedly raise questions about his true intentions and his level of interest in coaching in the NBA.

Hurley's decision is a reminder of the changing dynamics of NBA destinations. While Los Angeles has traditionally been seen as a premier location for players and coaches, it seems that Hurley's loyalty to UConn and his desire to continue his successful college coaching career outweighed the allure of joining one of the biggest franchises in sports.

For now, Lakers fans will have to accept that their pursuit of Hurley has come to an end. The focus will now shift to other coaching candidates as the organization strives to find the right leader to guide their team into the future.

In the meantime, Hurley's choice to sign a new deal with UConn will surely leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Lakers supporters. The purple and gold faithful had hoped that Hurley's NBA coaching aspirations would align with their team's ambitions, but it appears that he had other plans in mind.