NBA Rumors: Lakers, Dan Hurley, Rockets, Draft, Spurs

Lakers

UConn’s Dan Hurley is meeting with the Lakers, but Hurley becoming an NBA coach is far from a done deal, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

“I just think it’s important for the Lakers to try to close this weekend,” Windhorst said on Get Up of the meeting first reported by colleague Adrian Wojnarowski. “I know that this has momentum as Woj talked about, but it’s been emphasized to me that this is not a done deal. That there is still relationship building and conversations that need to take place that are probably going to take place over the next couple of days.”

Hurley is said to be “50-50” on whether to take the Lakers’ offer.

“You know UConn had a chance now to sort of move back,” Windhorst said. “You know, one of the things that didn’t happen in the wake of that second championship, UConn was not able to get a contract extension done with Dan Hurley in these two months that have passed since they won that title. And I’ll point out this week they did get one done with Geno Auriemma, their legendary women’s basketball coach, that’s in place. So now UConn is scrambling trying to improve their offer to give him another option as he weighs what is a certainly a lucrative offer from the Lakers.”

Rockets

• The Rockets have been discussing offers for the No. 3 overall draft pick with the Grizzlies and Nets, per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
• The talks with the Nets reportedly involve Brooklyn forward Mikal Bridges, as we relayed here.
• Meanwhile, the Grizzlies would like to move up from their No. 9 spot, with eyes on UConn center Donovan Clingan. “Memphis has a need for a long-term center to add to their core,” RealGM wrote. “Clingan isn’t expected to be available when the Grizzlies select with the ninth overall pick.”
• Houston, of course, could keep the pick. But it appears the Rockets are very open to exploring every last possible option.
• Per Kelly Iko of The Athletic: “Houston has identified floor spacing and shooting as an area of need this offseason privately and publicly and have an interest in veteran sharpshooter Malik Beasley,” Iko wrote, citing league sources. “Beasley, who is also attracting early interest from Orlando and Golden State, spent the past season in Milwaukee, starting 77 games and shooting 41.3 percent from 3-point distance.”

Spurs

The Spurs could be exploring packaging their Nos. 4 and 8 overall picks to try to move up, perhaps as far as No. 1, as relayed by NBA reporter Jeff Garcia of KENS. The Hawks currently hold the top spot in the draft.

“You hear teams like San Antonio possibly exploring the idea of packaging the fourth and eighth pick. Maybe to move up to No. 1,” NBA draft insider Jonathan Givony said on ESPN.

• Added Garcia: “A move for the No. 1 pick could be used to pair Wembanyama with a projected No. 1 pick, fellow countryman French forward Zaccharie Risacher. Or it could be a sign the team may want another French big man, Alex Sarr.”
• In case you missed it, a source told Hoops Wire the Spurs are “very interested” in acquiring point guard Darius Garland from the Cavaliers. We have that full story here.