OT: Report: Cavaliers make offer to Tom Izzo

[AAU Teammate]

You dont have to be a money grubbing whore to want 30M

That opens up opportunities for him

[Magilla_Gorilla]

This is a good smart hire by GIlbert whether Lebron comes back or not.

[DuckIII]

You dont have to be a money grubbing whore to want 30M

That opens up opportunities for him

Scorn, ridicule, and a Maybach?

[DuckIII]

This is a good smart hire by GIlbert whether Lebron comes back or not.

I suppose. But as much as I love Izzo, what's he gonna do with no talent?

This is the very reason the "college coaches can't make the leap" argument exists - they all get **** jobs.

[Scott May]

You dont have to be a money grubbing whore to want 30M

That opens up opportunities for him

Right. As opposed to the, say, 20 or 25 million he could get from any number of NBA teams between now and his early sixties, teams that are in a much, much better talent situation than a LeBron-less Cavs. And aren't in Cleveland. Or the 50-75 million he'll make by playing out the string for the next 20 years in East Lansing.

Seriously, now. No, I can't prove that Tom Izzo can go out and grab 20-25 million from an NBA team any time he wants. But we're not going to dispute that for at least 8 or 9 years, the guy's name is mentioned when there is an NBA opening, right?

[Magilla_Gorilla]

Its 30 million dollars - thats not chump change, even to a guy making 3 million per. Its more than Bosh would get in the 6th year he apparently is unwilling to give up.

Its a hell of alot to give up (top 3 NBA coaches) and can make even a terrible situation look pretty damn good.

[AAU Teammate]

You dont have to be a money grubbing whore to want 30M

That opens up opportunities for him

Scorn, ridicule, and a Maybach?

what's a maybach

i'm but a simple caveman

[davhern]

Jesus Christ Re, how many times do those disagreeing with you have to clarify. No one is arguing that Izzo is what would covince LeBron to stay. Its the converse. That LeBron's staying (along with the sick cash) convinced Izzo to take the job.

If LeBron has already been staying all this time, then WTF has the last few weeks been about?

What is World Wide Wes talking about? I thought they were best buds?

If Lebron was staying all along, why didn't he give this 'signal' to the Cavs long before now? Because it sure as hell appeared that as of yesterday, the Cavs had no clue if LeBron was coming back. Their own owner described contact with LeBron as being very minimal to this point.

And plenty of Cleveland related rumors (insiders and team followers) have expressed dismay that LeBron might actually be leaving. This doesn't jive with everyone knowing that LeBron has been coming back since the beginning.

And the thing is, there is NO reason for the stories about the limited contact between LBJ and the Cavs to be false. It's not tampering. He can be in the room with the head coaches during interviews (for obvious reasons having to do with his free agency, he wouldn't) for all the league cares, but the reports aren't even that he's giving them feedback, which would be perfectly reasonable for him to do. He's been borderline unreachable... as WIndy reported, not even text or email contact.

[DuckIII]

You dont have to be a money grubbing whore to want 30M

That opens up opportunities for him

Scorn, ridicule, and a Maybach?

what's a maybach

i'm but a simple caveman

[Rerisen]

Would Izzo's style even mesh with such a star figure as LeBron? Shannon Brown says coach must make some changes if he moves up.

"He’s gonna have to, in my opinion, adjust some of his coaching tactics and techniques," said Brown, one of numerous NBA players who played for Izzo in East Lansing. "But I definitely think he could be successful at this level. The legacy that he has and could possibly leave at Michigan State is something that not too many people could do. If he stays, I'm happy for him. If he goes, I’m happy for him. He definitely has the options in his hands."
...
"I’d just tell him it’s a whole different thing from college to the NBA," said Brown, who played for Izzo from 2003-06. "It’s a whole different business. You've got to be ready for anything."
...
But Jackson warned that coaching in the NBA is an "arduous task."

"It's not an easy job, and you know, when it's 200 some days, depending on how far you go into the playoffs, it's pretty arduous as far as dealing with stars of all ranges coming to the NBA," he said. "And from that, it has to go on for 82 games. It's a long march, and that gets difficult. The game itself, 82 games is a big difference from 30 or whatever you coach in college."

Nobody has coached more NBA superstars than Jackson, and Brown said communication will be the key for Izzo.

"It would be tough for him," Brown said. "He likes guys that are like him. He likes fiery guys. He probably couldn't talk to them the way he does sometimes, but I think if he made the adjustment he would be great."

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/m ... 3/22451562

[Magilla_Gorilla]

This is a good smart hire by GIlbert whether Lebron comes back or not.

I suppose. But as much as I love Izzo, what's he gonna do with no talent?

This is the very reason the "college coaches can't make the leap" argument exists - they all get **** jobs.

They'll scrap - Scott Skiles style. Izzo becomes the celebrity for the Cavs. Gilbert has to do something - he can't just lose lebron and then throw up his hands.

[JackFinn]

...

Magilla, I don't know if you were going to send me something, but if you did it may have gotten lost in my **** email filter.

[Ajosu]

If Izzo takes the job, I don't think it has to be an indicator of Lebron staying. It could be. Or it could be just about the money.

I wouldn't be surprised if this move by the Cavs is a desperation move aimed at countering all the Bulls hype, and us hiring Thibo.

[davhern]

If Izzo takes the job, I don't think it has to be an indicator of Lebron staying. It could be. Or it could be just about the money.

I wouldn't be surprised if this move by the Cavs is a desperation move aimed at countering all the Bulls hype, and us hiring Thibo.

Exactly... it seems people are really underestimating how desperate the Cavs have to be to not lose him and they also seem to be underestimating what it means to double or triple someone's salary (I'm not sure what Izzo's current salary is, but just going off what I've been reading)...

[Rerisen]

Cavs hardly sitting around waiting on Izzo.

Cleveland general manager Chris Grant has confirmed that the team has been in contact with Izzo and other candidates, but declined further comment other than to say the team didn't have a timetable. The team has reached out to ESPN analyst and former New Orleans coach Byron Scott and ESPN/ABC analyst and former coach Jeff Van Gundy.

Scott has emerged as a strong candidate, according to an Eastern Conference executive with knowledge of the club's thinking. Scott is now on equal footing with Izzo, according to the source.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5268981

Which suggests to me there is not some secret deal with pairing LeBron/Izzo, they just want to land a good coach.

[davhern]

Cavs hardly sitting around waiting on Izzo.

Cleveland general manager Chris Grant has confirmed that the team has been in contact with Izzo and other candidates, but declined further comment other than to say the team didn't have a timetable. The team has reached out to ESPN analyst and former New Orleans coach Byron Scott and ESPN/ABC analyst and former coach Jeff Van Gundy.

Scott has emerged as a strong candidate, according to an Eastern Conference executive with knowledge of the club's thinking. Scott is now on equal footing with Izzo, according to the source.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5268981

Which suggests to me there is not some secret deal with pairing LeBron/Izzo, they just want to land a good coach.

I've been with you all along on this... Izzo would be SO signed, sealed, and delivered if he was getting an LBJ assurance. At least doubling his current salary? How many coaches get to sign on to a (you can debate just how much of one, but the fact remains) championship contending NBA team? I just don't see how, no matter how loyal and how much you love your current situation, one could turn down such a ridiculously attractive situation (again, top teams with the best player in the league rarely have coaching vacancies) for some of the most money any coach will see.

That said, this Byron Scott thing could also be a way of the Cavs putting the pressure on Izzo.

[Jordan45822]

I don't think Scott wants to do anything until Phil makes a decision.

[davhern]

I don't think Scott wants to do anything until Phil makes a decision.

Are you thinking of Brian Shaw?

[waffle]

Byron Scott "I want Izzo money. Hey, I have a TRACK RECORD"

I am sorry, but 30 million vs. 15 million is still lots vs. lots. It's just money. He has a GREAT job, is highly respected and seems to love the college game. So why go? Just for the Kaysh? Yes, I'll say it, that's selling out. That's saying, yes, I do have a price.

[Jordan45822]

I don't think Scott wants to do anything until Phil makes a decision.

Are you thinking of Brian Shaw?

No Byron Scott. Him or Brian Shaw would be hands down be the next Lakers coach if Phil retires.