Shams Charania is firing again at his former mentor because the reporting over the Lakers’ seek for a head coach intensifies.
Charania, The Athletic’s NBA insider, mentioned Tuesday morning that Dan Hurley “was not the No. 1 candidate” for the Lakers job regardless of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski — Charania’s former mentor — reporting in any other case via the weekend.
On Monday, Hurley turned down a six-year, $70 million supply and determined to remain at UConn and chase a 3rd straight NCAA title, leaving Pelicans affiliate head coach James Borrego and former participant and present ESPN analyst J.J. Redick because the potential frontrunners for Los Angeles.
“[Hurley] was not the No. 1 candidate, the No. 1 man to go pursue from the beginning, from the start. However they felt like there was a gap there,” Charania mentioned on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Again” on Tuesday. “On the finish of the day, Dan Hurley selected to not depart. He selected to remain for $20 million much less at UConn… it does beg the query across the league, was there real curiosity? Was this a real course of with this? Or was this nearly leverage?”
Charania had reported that the Lakers have been “zeroing in” on Redick, just for Wojnarowski to report that Hurley was a favourite two days later.
In an look on Tuesday’s “Pat McAfee Present” — on the airwaves of Wojnarowski’s employer — the titular host made observe of the rising proxy warfare between the insiders.
“If the Lakers need to go rent James Borrego, they’ve had a month to rent James Borrego,” Charania mentioned on the McAfee’s present. “They’ve had this week, after shedding out on Dan Hurley –– I assume –– they’ve had this time to go get James Borrego.”
“‘I assume’? What was that?” McAfee mentioned, latching on to the not-so-subtle jab Charania despatched Wojnarowski’s method.
It’s the newest within the on-going battle between the NBA insiders, who battle each other for scoops and information.
As The Ringer’s Invoice Simmons — a former ESPN star himself — identified, there’s a consequence awaiting one of many two warring factions.
“You’ll be able to’t sleep on the Woj-Shams factor both,” he mentioned on Monday’s episode of “The Invoice Simmons Podcast,” after Hurley opted to return to Connecticut. “Shams experiences that J.J.’s getting the job. After which Woj comes again with the ‘Wait a second,’ which I feel is a chunk too. ‘Is he getting the job? What about Hurley?’ After which increase. So a type of two guys goes to be incorrect.”
The final day that Redick might be broadcasting a sport is June 24, a possible Sport 7 between the Celtics and Mavericks within the NBA Finals, although he did have a message for Charania, who has continued to tie him to the Lakers in latest weeks.
“I’d says this: My focus proper now could be on calling the NBA Finals,” he mentioned on DraftKings’ “GoJo and Golic” present final week. “I’m so lucky that I’m on this place and I get to name these finals with Doris and Mike … my day-to-day proper now could be consumed with calling video games, the 19 completely different podcasts I really feel like I’ve, my obligations to all of our companions. My focus is on the NBA Finals.
“When it comes to Shams, that might be addressed as soon as the season is over, I’ll simply say that,” he added, “I don’t imply any job — I imply Shams. We’ll wait on that one.”
