OT: Report: Cavaliers make offer to Tom Izzo

[Ralphb07]

If Izzo does in fact accept the offer, my heart is moving on from Lebron. I can see a scenario wherein Izzo accepts the job without an assurance that Lebron is staying, but not one where the Cavs offer it. I dunno. Obviously nothing's for certain, but I think this would be a really bad sign for us.

Yeah especially with reports from the Detroit News that Izzo turned the Bulls down last week. You take that and add him accepting Cleveland and I agree, time to move on from LBJ.

Or it could be, you know, that we didn't offer him $30M (or probably even half that).

It's my opinion but I highly doubt we offered him 3 mil as well. I can see 4-5mil and with LBJ, that would of been more money that at MSU, LBJ which IMO says goodbye MSU.

LBJ could bolt and the money is a lot to turn down, but Izzo/Gilbert must feel LBJ will stay with this hire

[davhern]

Why are people here acting like doubling his salary isn't a big deal?

I can at least see Ashy's argument that the Cavs might not offer it (without knowing LBJ would stick around)... but to think that Izzo would never take that money if offered, even without assurances about LeBron, is insane, IMO... plenty of people would be willing to take the gamble and handle the losing if it doesn't work out... because twice the money is, well, twice the money.

[DuckIII]

If Izzo does in fact accept the offer, my heart is moving on from Lebron. I can see a scenario wherein Izzo accepts the job without an assurance that Lebron is staying, but not one where the Cavs offer it. I dunno. Obviously nothing's for certain, but I think this would be a really bad sign for us.

Yeah especially with reports from the Detroit News that Izzo turned the Bulls down last week. You take that and add him accepting Cleveland and I agree, time to move on from LBJ.

Or it could be, you know, that we didn't offer him $30M (or probably even half that).

Undeniably true. But still, does Izzo strike you as the type of guy to go to basketball hell (which is sans-LeBron Cleveland) even for that paycheck? The man is loaded already, making $3 million a year for a self-perpetuating powerhouse of his own creation.

I just don't buy that he'd take the cash, big as it is. But that's just a gut feeling. I don't know the man.

[davhern]

Michigan State assistant coach Mark Montgomery says Tom Izzo called a team meeting Tuesday, informing his players he has talked to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Montgomery says Izzo told the Spartans to focus on classes and workouts. Izzo did not tell the Spartans he was leaving the school to coach the Cavs.

Izzo told the team that Cleveland has a big interest in him and that he has a lot of thinking to do about it, a school source who was at the meeting told ESPN.com's Andy Katz.

But Izzo did not give any indication that he would accept the job, according to the source. Izzo continued to tell the players how much they have to work toward a potential national championship next season, beginning with summer workouts.

Two NBA sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that Izzo did not tell his players he would accept the Cavaliers job.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer first reported Monday that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and Izzo talked about the framework of a long-term deal, worth about $6 million a season for up to five years. Izzo makes more than $3 million a season and is under contract through 2016.

While the Cavaliers have discussed the parameters of a contract with Izzo, a source with knowledge of the talks told Broussard the reported five-year, $30 million offer is "a bit inflated" and that the job is not yet Izzo's to turn down.

New Cavaliers GM Chris Grant confirmed the club has had contact with Izzo and "a number" of other coaching candidates but would not provide any details.

The Michigan State staff doesn't know what Izzo will do, but according to a source, they still believe that ultimately he will stay at Michigan State without an assurance that free agent LeBron James would be with the Cavs.

Izzo did not get into specifics about the financial offer from the Cavs. But a college basketball source who has NBA experience and is friendly with Izzo said that the money offered -- reportedly $6 million -- will not change with or without James, and it remains an attractive offer to consider.

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

[PJ Brown]

Or it could be, you know, that we didn't offer him $30M (or probably even half that).

Exactly. I'm pretty sure we'll "move on" from LBJ . . .until tomorrow when another report points to him in Chicago.

LBJ may still return to Cleveland. But the hiring of a college coach swayed by a gazillion dollars hardly guarantees a thing.

[ScottyKCMO]

If Izzo does in fact accept the offer, my heart is moving on from Lebron. I can see a scenario wherein Izzo accepts the job without an assurance that Lebron is staying, but not one where the Cavs offer it. I dunno. Obviously nothing's for certain, but I think this would be a really bad sign for us.

Hope this makes you feel better...

I think the Cavs are making an aggressive offer to Izzo essnentially as a counter-move to the Bulls hiring Thibodeau. It seems to me at this point that the Bulls are the main competition for LeBron, and might even be in the driver seat at this point. The Bulls just made a power move and hired Thibodeau, who happens to be a client of WWW. IMO, the Cavs are being completely reactionary here. Gilbert is a MSU guy, so Izzo is probably the first big name that came to mind. Izzo is contemplating accepting the job because (A) He'll make twice as much money (B) He's done about all there is to do in college basketball (C) The owner is a MSU Guy, and (D) There's probably a 40% chance he could be coaching LeBron. That 40% chance is just gravy on top.
If LeBron stays, the offer to Izzo turns out great for Cleveland in hindsight. If LeBron leaves, it is still a decent move because they've got a good basketball coach to rebuild with for the next 5 years, and some cap room to work with. Izzo can learn the NBA ropes for a year or two while the team rebuilds.

[PJ Brown]

Well, the ESPN article makes it clear that 1) Izzo hasn't decided to take the offer and 2) it doesn't appear that Lebron is any sort of guarantee. The Cavs are just swinging for the fences because, well, why the hell not? They have everything to lose.

[Scott May]

If Izzo does in fact accept the offer, my heart is moving on from Lebron. I can see a scenario wherein Izzo accepts the job without an assurance that Lebron is staying, but not one where the Cavs offer it. I dunno. Obviously nothing's for certain, but I think this would be a really bad sign for us.

Hope this makes you feel better...

I think the Cavs are making an aggressive offer to Izzo essnentially as a counter-move to the Bulls hiring Thibodeau. It seems to me at this point that the Bulls are the main competition for LeBron, and might even be in the driver seat at this point. The Bulls just made a power move and hired Thibodeau, who happens to be a client of WWW. IMO, the Cavs are being completely reactionary here. Gilbert is a MSU guy, so Izzo is probably the first big name that came to mind. Izzo is contemplating accepting the job because (A) He'll make twice as much money (B) He's done about all there is to do in college basketball (C) The owner is a MSU Guy, and (D) There's probably a 40% chance he could be coaching LeBron. That 40% chance is just gravy on top.
If LeBron stays, the offer to Izzo turns out great for Cleveland in hindsight. If LeBron leaves, it is still a decent move because they've got a good basketball coach to rebuild with for the next 5 years, and some cap room to work with. Izzo can learn the NBA ropes for a year or two while the team rebuilds.

The Bulls apparently made this "power move" only after they were turned down by Izzo, mind you.

We talk a lot about how if winning is important to LeBron, he'll choose Chicago. Is it really *that* big of a stretch to think that Izzo likes to win? Or that winning at $3+ million a year, knowing that you will still be on the front burner for any NBA job that opens up, is preferable to getting the absolute snot knocked out of you 60+ times a year for $6 million until you can't take it anymore? Does Izzo strike you as the kind of guy who would risk having his entire legacy tarnished by a disastrous Tim Floyd-like stint in the pros?

[dougthonus]

Undeniably true. But still, does Izzo strike you as the type of guy to go to basketball hell (which is sans-LeBron Cleveland) even for that paycheck? The man is loaded already, making $3 million a year for a self-perpetuating powerhouse of his own creation.

I just don't buy that he'd take the cash, big as it is. But that's just a gut feeling. I don't know the man.

I love my job, but if someone offered me a crap job at double the money, I'd probably take it, and I'm not making 3 million a year.

Granted, you could argue that if you are making 3 million a year, you don't need your salary doubled, but I think few people making that much money feel that way. People making that much are also hanging out with the mega-rich and so the money often becomes an even bigger factor at some point.

I don't know Tom Izzo, and I won't pretend that I do. While he's had offers to coach in the NBA before, I doubt he's ever been offered even remotely this much guaranteed money before, and I'd say everyone falls into the category of those who'd leave and take the money unless I have overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

[davhern]

Undeniably true. But still, does Izzo strike you as the type of guy to go to basketball hell (which is sans-LeBron Cleveland) even for that paycheck? The man is loaded already, making $3 million a year for a self-perpetuating powerhouse of his own creation.

I just don't buy that he'd take the cash, big as it is. But that's just a gut feeling. I don't know the man.

I love my job, but if someone offered me a crap job at double the money, I'd probably take it, and I'm not making 3 million a year.

Granted, you could argue that if you are making 3 million a year, you don't need your salary doubled, but I think few people making that much money feel that way. People making that much are also hanging out with the mega-rich and so the money often becomes an even bigger factor at some point.

I don't know Tom Izzo, and I won't pretend that I do. While he's had offers to coach in the NBA before, I doubt he's ever been offered even remotely this much guaranteed money before, and I'd say everyone falls into the category of those who'd leave and take the money unless I have overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

I have a buddy who made close to $2M last year trading... I definitely feel like I'd either retire and invest that or take a long hiatus if I made that much money... but him, the guy who actually made that money? believe me, nowhere near satisfied and nowhere near ready to stop making money.

I'm sure the perspective changes when you're the one who actually made the money (and, like you said, you're in circles with others making just as much or more).

[dougthonus]

We talk a lot about how if winning is important to LeBron, he'll choose Chicago. Is it really *that* big of a stretch to think that Izzo likes to win? Or that winning at $3+ million a year, knowing that you will still be on the front burner for any NBA job that opens up, is preferable to getting the absolute snot knocked out of you 60+ times a year for $6 million until you can't take it anymore? Does Izzo strike you as the kind of guy who would risk having his entire legacy tarnished by a disastrous Tim Floyd-like stint in the pros?

Unless I know otherwise, all guys strike me as the kind of guys who like 15 million extra dollars.

I'm sure he could get another NBA coaching gig, but there aren't many coaching gigs that come with a 30 million dollar salary. In fact, outside of Phil Jackson, no coach has ever been guaranteed this much money (and I'm not positive Jackson was either, though I believe he was).

[Scott May]

Undeniably true. But still, does Izzo strike you as the type of guy to go to basketball hell (which is sans-LeBron Cleveland) even for that paycheck? The man is loaded already, making $3 million a year for a self-perpetuating powerhouse of his own creation.

I just don't buy that he'd take the cash, big as it is. But that's just a gut feeling. I don't know the man.

I love my job, but if someone offered me a crap job at double the money, I'd probably take it, and I'm not making 3 million a year.

Granted, you could argue that if you are making 3 million a year, you don't need your salary doubled, but I think few people making that much money feel that way. People making that much are also hanging out with the mega-rich and so the money often becomes an even bigger factor at some point.

I don't know Tom Izzo, and I won't pretend that I do. While he's had offers to coach in the NBA before, I doubt he's ever been offered even remotely this much guaranteed money before, and I'd say everyone falls into the category of those who'd leave and take the money unless I have overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

In most cases I'd agree with you, but Izzo's trump card is that the odds are excellent that he would be offered a similar amount of money (and note that the ESPN report says 5/30 is a little high) to coach an NBA team at any point in the next five years. He might not be able to take over a team that is a title contender, but he sure as hell would be able to get one that would be in better shape than a LeBronless Cavs team.

[davhern]

In most cases I'd agree with you, but Izzo's trump card is that the odds are excellent that he would be offered a similar amount of money (and note that the ESPN report says 5/30 is a little high) to coach an NBA team at any point in the next five years. He might not be able to take over a team that is a title contender, but he sure as hell would be able to get one that would be in better shape than a LeBronless Cavs team.

You keep saying this, but I don't think it's all that true, and I definitely don't think it's something he could or would take for granted.

[dougthonus]

I have a buddy who made close to $2M last year trading... I definitely feel like I'd either retire and invest that or take a long hiatus if I made that much money... but him, the guy who actually made that money? believe me, nowhere near satisfied and nowhere near ready to stop making money.

I'm sure the perspective changes when you're the one who actually made the money (and, like you said, you're in circles with others making just as much or more).

This is definitely true of those I know who make over $1 million a year which isn't a huge sample size, but I know at least three people for sure who do and another two who might. The people who have the most money, in my experience, are also the most hung up on making more.

[Payt10]

Come on guys, Tom Izzo isn't going to make Lebron sign with Cleveland. Just because he accepts an offer doesn't mean Lebron is coming back. This has more to do with the 30+ million than it has to do with Lebron. Can you honestly see Lebron going to management saying "I want Tom Izzo" he's a college coach with NO NBA coaching experience. How many college coaches have been successful at the NBA level? I can't name one. I'm not giving up hopes at all for Lebron if Izzo signs.

[dougthonus]

Undeniably true. But still, does Izzo strike you as the type of guy to go to basketball hell (which is sans-LeBron Cleveland) even for that paycheck? The man is loaded already, making $3 million a year for a self-perpetuating powerhouse of his own creation.

I just don't buy that he'd take the cash, big as it is. But that's just a gut feeling. I don't know the man.

I love my job, but if someone offered me a crap job at double the money, I'd probably take it, and I'm not making 3 million a year.

Granted, you could argue that if you are making 3 million a year, you don't need your salary doubled, but I think few people making that much money feel that way. People making that much are also hanging out with the mega-rich and so the money often becomes an even bigger factor at some point.

I don't know Tom Izzo, and I won't pretend that I do. While he's had offers to coach in the NBA before, I doubt he's ever been offered even remotely this much guaranteed money before, and I'd say everyone falls into the category of those who'd leave and take the money unless I have overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

In most cases I'd agree with you, but Izzo's trump card is that the odds are excellent that he would be offered a similar amount of money (and note that the ESPN report says 5/30 is a little high) to coach an NBA team at any point in the next five years. He might not be able to take over a team that is a title contender, but he sure as hell would be able to get one that would be in better shape than a LeBronless Cavs team.

I don't have the link handy, but I thought the ESPN report said the 30 million was low, that he's making MORE per year than 6 million. Maybe I misread it though.

As a side note, it's a buttload of money for a coach, no coach outside of Phil Jackson has ever been guaranteed that much money to my knowledge. To expect that he could find another offer like that later is dreaming. Also most teams looking for head coaches stink, and if LeBron is 50/50, he might figure "hey more money than i'll ever get offered again and a 50/50 shot at the best player in the game".

I don't dismiss your view at all, I think you could be right, I can just see the other side just as easily and wouldn't dismiss it either.

[davhern]

Come on guys, Tom Izzo isn't going to make Lebron sign with Cleveland. Just because he accepts an offer doesn't mean Lebron is coming back. This has more to do with the 30+ million than it has to do with Lebron. Can you honestly see Lebron going to management saying "I want Tom Izzo" he's a college coach with NO NBA coaching experience. How many college coaches have been successful at the NBA level? I can't name one. I'm not giving up hopes at all for Lebron if Izzo signs.

I could see him wanting (or at the very least, OKing) Tom Izzo... what I couldn't see is him leaning toward leaving Cleveland and then deciding to stay based on Tom Izzo coming.

[Scott May]

I don't have the link handy, but I thought the ESPN report said the 30 million was low, that he's making MORE per year than 6 million. Maybe I misread it though.

As a side note, it's a buttload of money for a coach, no coach outside of Phil Jackson has ever been guaranteed that much money to my knowledge. To expect that he could find another offer like that later is dreaming. Also most teams looking for head coaches stink, and if LeBron is 50/50, he might figure "hey more money than i'll ever get offered again and a 50/50 shot at the best player in the game".

I don't dismiss your view at all, I think you could be right, I can just see the other side just as easily and wouldn't dismiss it either.

"While the Cavaliers have discussed the parameters of a contract with Izzo, a source with knowledge of the talks told Broussard the reported five-year, $30 million offer is "a bit inflated" and that the job is not yet Izzo's to turn down."

I acknowledged that he likely would not get another deal with that much guaranteed money (btw, wasn't Larry Brown's deal with the Knicks 4/30 guaranteed?). But define "like that"--I think the guy could get a 4/20 or 5/25 deal virtually every year. Ask an MSU fan about how much his name comes up when there's a NBA vacancy. It's an annual rite of passage.

I just think there's a massive disconnect here. A, he already makes a freaking boatload of money. B. The guy's entire shtick is build on winning. He's not dumb, he knows that he's going to lose more in the NBA, but to take over a team in the dead of nuclear winter? I said before that I'm fully aware he's not going to take over the Lakers if Phil retires, but don't you think he wants to go to a team where there's at least some friggin hope?

[Ralphb07]

Here's something that people aren't putting into consideration.

The money is great but if he goes to a poor team wins 15 games a season and is a flop, what's next? Yes he can get a good gig at college again, but is it the MSU job? Also he'll be known as yet another college coach that couldn't make it in the NBA.

If it was just about the money, he would of accepted the job day one. IMO it's more than just about the money

[Jeffster81]

The last college coach that successful in the NBA, imo, is Larry Brown. Larry would be the only semi-available coach that might get LBJ to stop and think. Otherwise this is Cleveland running around like a chicken with his head chopped off.

If he decides to take the Cavs job, more power to him, but he has to realize that not only is there an even chance of LBJ won't be there, but the fact is Izzo may have to coach against him. You leave your kingdom you better be 100% sure the other side is better then where you are currently. Calipari, Pitino, Carlesmo, Mike Montgomery, Tim Floyd, Lon Kruger, the graveyard of college coaches dying as NBA coach is deep. I think those failures is the reason why Donovan turned down the Magic to return to Florida.

The money is tempting, and so is coaching LBJ, but even still, with Izzo and their current roster I don't see Cleveland getting past the 2nd round. That is what's going to be the major factor for LBJ, which roster is going to get him to where he wants to go faster. That is an obstalce Cleveland has to find a way to overcome.

He's thinking about it, like any good businessman should, but ultimately I think Izzo stays, and Cleveland continues to run around like a chicken with their head cut off.