NBA Fans Post Memes, Troll Lakers After UConn's Dan Hurley Rejects Contract to Be HC | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers didn't get their man.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that UConn head coach Dan Hurley turned down the Lakers' six-year, $70 million offer to become their new head coach, a deal that would have made him one of the six highest-paid head coaches in the NBA.

Hurley will instead return to the Huskies to pursue a third straight national title. Per Woj, the head coach "already had a UConn offer to become one of highest paid NCAA coaches and those talks will continue."

So the Lakers search will continue, but not before social media has its fun:

Overtime @overtime

Lakers fans hearing the Dan Hurley news <br><br> <a href="">

No Escalators @NoEscalators

Hey <a href="">@Lakers</a> <a href="">

Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

but I thought college sports was "dying" and "broken" beyond repair?!? <a href="">

Kyle Tucker @KyleTucker_ATH

Dan Hurley turned down crazy money from Kentucky and the Lakers to stay at UConn and chase a threepeat. That's an impressive level of commitment to "don't mess with happy." <a href="">

Lakers Lead @LakersLead

Rob Pelinka: we can't wait for next season<br><br>Dan Hurley: <a href="">

Joe Pompliano @JoePompliano

It's almost like Dan Hurley leaked all of this through a trusted media source (who literally wrote a book on his dad) to secure himself an even bigger contract at UConn. Woj gets a big scoop, the Lakers get to say we tried, and Hurley gets a huge raise. Win. Win. Win. <a href="">

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix

Teams get second choices all the time but imagine that next Lakers conversation with JJ/Borrego/whoever. "So, uh, we really like you for this job …"

Justin Termine @TermineRadio

Nice job by the Lakers trying to steal the spotlight from the Celtics and Mavericks.<br><br>... and then end up embarrassing themselves instead.

Eric Pincus @EricPincus

Long tradition of NCAA coaches getting raises via flirting with the Lakers, not especially surprised by the decision

Mike Guardabascio @Guardabascio

The Lakers are really one of the top global sports brands and are REALLY being run on some "well how are we gonna keep the restaurant open after dad and mom aren't around anymore" vibes

Prior to the Hurley buzz, former NBA player and current broadcaster, JJ Redick, and current New Orleans Hornets assistant and former Charlotte Hornets head coach, James Borrego, were the favorites for the Lakers job. They'll presumably return to the driver's seat for the gig, which surely won't be awkward at all.

BetMGM 🦁 @BetMGM

JJ Redick to the Lakers right now <a href="">

Since winning the bubble title, the Lakers have fired two head coaches, undergone multiple roster constructions—including the ill-advised, massive failure that was the Russell Westbrook experiment—and arguably squandered the final years of LeBron James' career.

Yes, last season included a trip to the Western Conference Finals, but only after the team survived the Play-In Tournament. The Denver Nuggets promptly swept the Lakers and then knocked them out of the playoffs in five games during this year's first round.

Because the Lakers have the duo of James and Anthony Davis, they should always be in the mix, at least for a playoff berth. But what becomes of this franchise once James retires?

This franchise went six straight seasons without a playoff appearance before the 2019-20 title. The Lakers have never quite gotten it right since. Failing to land Hurley after a very public pursuit feels like another major misstep for the organization at a time when their hated rivals, the Boston Celtics, are two wins away from another title.