Coach K to Cavs?

[BeachCat97]

Doubtful, but you never know:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5214133&categoryid=2459788

What if they gave him around 10 mil/season and re-signed Lebron? I have to think he'd at least listen. That's far more than he'd ever make in Durham and a chance to coach one of the top players of all time.

[Flipper]

Not the type of player that he recruits to Duke, so it'll be a shock if he makes the move. Plus, he's getting long in the tooth, why go thru the insanity that coaching the NBA has become with the sweet gig/legacy he's got going in Durham.

He just doesn't come across as the type that will put up with GM's like Lebron.:)

Calipari is more likely, IMO.

[barringer97]

If he rejected the Lakers, he ain't going to the Cavs.

[BeachCat97]

I think you guys underestimate the appeal of the Cav situation, provided 'Bron returns.

Clearly K has an interest in coaching pros; otherwise he wouldn't have coached the Olympic team. Have we forgotten already?

It may come down to just how much money and control Cleveland will offer him. If he's offered in the neighborhood of 10 mil/season and is given full control over personnel, he'd be a fool not to listen.

Think of it this way: hypothetically, he could go to Cleveland, see how things go, and then return to Duke if things don't work out.

He's getting older, it's true. But not so old he couldn't do 2-3 seasons in Cleveland and then 2-3 more in Durham.

[BeachCat97]

By the way, which coach makes more at his current job, K or Calipari? Pretty sure it's Cal, which is absurd given the track record of both coaches.

[Cats101]

By the way, which coach makes more at his current job, K or Calipari? Pretty sure it's Cal, which is absurd given the track record of both coaches.

That's because UK was desperate.

Doesn't matter who gets paid more. Coach K>>>>>>>Cal
Yesterday, today, tomorrow, next week, in his grave.

[EndOfAnEra]

0% chance this happens.

[biz cat]

It aint happenin

[BeachCat97]

That's because UK was desperate.

Doesn't matter who gets paid more. Coach K>>>>>>>Cal
Yesterday, today, tomorrow, next week, in his grave.

Absolutely, so don't you think it has to irk K just a little that this used car salesman in Lexington is making a much loftier salary? Something ain't right. K should be the highest paid college coach in the nation. Period. You could probably even make the argument that he ought to be the highest paid coach, at any level, in any sport. Kind of a toss-up between him and Phil Jackson.

[spartuna]

Absolutely, so don't you think it has to irk K just a little that this used car salesman in Lexington is making a much loftier salary? Something ain't right. K should be the highest paid college coach in the nation. Period. You could probably even make the argument that he ought to be the highest paid coach, at any level, in any sport. Kind of a toss-up between him and Phil Jackson.

1. I doubt coach K is hurting financially

2. Duke will probably repeat as NC'S, as they are loaded

3. See 1 &2

[BeachCat97]

1. I doubt coach K is hurting financially

2. Duke will probably repeat as NC'S, as they are loaded

3. See 1 &2

It's not an issue of whether he's "hurting financially." It's an issue of whether Cleveland would offer him so much money that it would guarantee financial security for future generations of his family. I don't care how happy someone is with their job. If you're suddenly offered a chance to make 3-5 times as much somewhere else, you can't ignore that. Just the way the world works.

And how well Duke could do next season is irrelevant to this conversation. The guy's got 4 NCs and countless FFs. He's got nothing left to prove at the college level.

[ice]

Coaching college is better than the pros. Not a lot of coaches make the jump, it usually doesn't work out well and you have a lot more control in college.

K is a college coach, from his system to the type of control he likes to have. At Duke, he does everything. He can have whatever rules he wants, he picks his players, he does his thing. In the NBA, someone else is your GM and you don't have the clout over your players that you do in college.

If K wanted to coach in the NBA, he would already be there. I think he did the Olympic thing because it's a special opportunity, but he just seems like he would rather be at Duke.

[Merkin]

Coaching college is better than the pros.


Not necessarily. Recruiting is a non-stop year round effort and the NCAA rules are pretty much endless.

In the NBA you just coach, and hardly do that. Like Larry Brown said, the difference between college and the pros is that in college the players listen to you.

The only drawbacks with the league is slightly less job security, and more traveling during the season.

[BeachCat97]

Coaching college is better than the pros. Not a lot of coaches make the jump, it usually doesn't work out well and you have a lot more control in college.

K is a college coach, from his system to the type of control he likes to have. At Duke, he does everything. He can have whatever rules he wants, he picks his players, he does his thing. In the NBA, someone else is your GM and you don't have the clout over your players that you do in college.

If K wanted to coach in the NBA, he would already be there. I think he did the Olympic thing because it's a special opportunity, but he just seems like he would rather be at Duke.

It's not unprecedented for an NBA team to give a college coach complete (or near-complete) administrative control; Celtics did it with Pitino.

Truthfully, I'd be shocked to see K actually do this. But again, if the salary offer is ridiculously high and Lebron's staying in Cleveland, I think he'd listen.

By the way, L.A. sports radio seems to think that the Zen Master will be the next Cavs' coach, not K. Phil has a track record of coming to teams on the brink of winning a title (Bulls, Lakers...Cavs?). Gonna be a crazy summer.

[budd1e_lee]

By the way, L.A. sports radio seems to think that the Zen Master will be the next Cavs' coach, not K. Phil has a track record of coming to teams on the brink of winning a title (Bulls, Lakers...Cavs?). Gonna be a crazy summer.

Is the ownership in Cleveland willing to pay $10-$12M per for a coach? If not they won't see Phil. I think we likely see Phil back in the wilderness next year. I just don't see him taking a huge pay cut, which is what he would be doing if he coaches anywhere, including LA.

[Itamicbomb]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/54257/12p-et-coach-k-not-interested-in-cavs-openingcourt-rules-nfl-32-teams-not-single-business-french-open-federer-advances

He coached Team USA because it's Team USA. Either way, he's a Kobe fan. At this point in his family's life, money is no object.

[BeachCat97]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/54257/12p-et-coach-k-not-interested-in-cavs-openingcourt-rules-nfl-32-teams-not-single-business-french-open-federer-advances

He coached Team USA because it's Team USA. Either way, he's a Kobe fan. At this point in his family's life, money is no object.

Itam, I know that when you and Mike and the rest of the Krzyzewski gather around the dinner table each evening, Coach has been adamant about money being no object, but let's be realistic here. He makes between 3 and 4 mil/season right now. If a pro team offered to double or triple his current salary, he's going to listen. And you better believe Duke would fully support any decision he made. He's earned the right to do whatever the f he wants with his career, even if it means taking another job.

In the end, he probably stays at Duke. But it's conceivable that Cleveland could set up a situation that would be very difficult for him to refuse.

All of this could be moot, however, if the Cavs can get Phil. But it's sounding like he may be headed back to Chicago: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5216961

[TobyKeithsRoady]

Don't have the foggiest how anyone could live in Cleveland. Only reason I ever went up to Cleveland was to see the Lynard Skynard induction to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Next time I go up there it will be for TK's well deserved induction. He even wrote some lyrics that forshadow it. Something like this... **** me where the hell is the damn quote marks. Any way

{Ohio seems so close, her breasts rest on my head, bartender give me another dose, for I'll get to Ohio before I'm dead]

That's from the song {The tires on my truck make her moist] in case anyone's asking.

[MrBug708]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/54257/12p-et-coach-k-not-interested-in-cavs-openingcourt-rules-nfl-32-teams-not-single-business-french-open-federer-advances

He coached Team USA because it's Team USA. Either way, he's a Kobe fan. At this point in his family's life, money is no object.

Do you think that if the Cavs offered him a Phill Jackson-esque contract of say...5 years 50 million (guaranteed), he would turn it down?

[Flipper]

Do you think that if the Cavs offered him a Phill Jackson-esque contract of say...5 years 50 million (guaranteed), he would turn it down?

IMHO, Coach K turns it down, if it comes to that.

I see K as a legacy type coach, meaning he's thinking about his place in history. I just don't see him as too worried about the almighty $$. And again, if he was going to jump to the NBA, well the Lakers was his for the taking and he turned that down.

[budd1e_lee]

IMHO, Coach K turns it down, if it comes to that.

I see K as a legacy type coach, meaning he's thinking about his place in history. I just don't see him as too worried about the almighty $$. And again, if he was going to jump to the NBA, well the Lakers was his for the taking and he turned that down.

Seemingly one could be "not worried about the almighty $$" and still be drawn by the allure of $10M+ per. Not being worried about it is more to the point of not going out looking for a raise. However, when somebody puts an offer in front of you that would double/triple your current salary, you'd be a fool to not at least consider it.

[BeachCat97]

IMHO, Coach K turns it down, if it comes to that.

I see K as a legacy type coach, meaning he's thinking about his place in history. I just don't see him as too worried about the almighty $$. And again, if he was going to jump to the NBA, well the Lakers was his for the taking and he turned that down.

I believe Coach K was offered the Laker job before they acquired Gasol. That didn't become a championship-capable team until PG got there.

If Cleveland resigns Lebron and adds, say, Chris Bosh, while retaining most of their key guys, that becomes a championship-capable team. And with the right coach there, they should win at least one title, if not more.

Coach K in the NBA would be strange. He'd have to deal with players talking back to him, more media attention, and enormous expectations, even larger than those he has at Duke. I could see him trying it if the salary offer is astronomical; otherwise, no reason for him to leave Durham.

[Itamicbomb]

Do you think that if the Cavs offered him a Phill Jackson-esque contract of say...5 years 50 million (guaranteed), he would turn it down?

As Flipper said, the Lakers offered him that four or whatever years ago and he did when Kobe was the best player in the game. He wasn't even really serious about the offer - it was used as leverage to get the university to allow him to build their practice facility (he wasn't even shaking the university down for money - the funding was already in place). I don't think any amount of money can get him to the NBA.

I don't think he sees the NBA out there as some challenge to knock off the list before he retires; as far as his legacy is concerned, getting to 1,000 wins and adding more titles would be more meaningful than watching the best player in basketball win a championship.

[OBCat]

He will not leave for any job. He will not get any calls in the pro's!!! I am sure that plays some kind of role in his decision too. LOL.

[Flipper]

I believe Coach K was offered the Laker job before they acquired Gasol. That didn't become a championship-capable team until PG got there.

If Cleveland resigns Lebron and adds, say, Chris Bosh, while retaining most of their key guys, that becomes a championship-capable team. And with the right coach there, they should win at least one title, if not more.

Coach K in the NBA would be strange. He'd have to deal with players talking back to him, more media attention, and enormous expectations, even larger than those he has at Duke. I could see him trying it if the salary offer is astronomical; otherwise, no reason for him to leave Durham.


Dude, there's salary cap to worry about. Too much money tied up with James and Bosh, then they would have to worry about Rose in a year or so.

[TheCat]

Is the ownership in Cleveland willing to pay $10-$12M per for a coach? If not they won't see Phil. I think we likely see Phil back in the wilderness next year. I just don't see him taking a huge pay cut, which is what he would be doing if he coaches anywhere, including LA.


In LA they are talking that Phil will get only 5-6 mill if he stays with the team next year vs 12 this year.

[TheCat]

imho, coach k turns it down, if it comes to that.

I see k as a legacy type coach, meaning he's thinking about his place in history. I just don't see him as too worried about the almighty $$. And again, if he was going to jump to the nba, well the lakers was his for the taking and he turned that down.


exactly.......

[Merkin]

it was used as leverage to get the university...

Isn't that the nature of 90% of college jobs? Feign interest so the university coughs up more dough?

[budd1e_lee]

In LA they are talking that Phil will get only 5-6 mill if he stays with the team next year vs 12 this year.

That's why I said he'd be taking a huge pay cut coaching anywhere, including LA. I can't in my right mind think that Chicago or Cleveland will pay him $10+. Even LA can't afford that long term, that should be a sign.

[BeachCat97]

My prediction:

If the Lakers win the title, Phil comes back at a reduced salary for one season.

If the Lakers lose, Phil goes back to Chicago and gets a huge salary for three seasons.

The Lebron situation is much harder to forecast. From his perspective, I think it'll come down to which team gives him the best chance to win a title. And the coach is definitely a factor here. Chicago and Cleveland, arguably the two most likely destinations, both have HC openings. If Lebron can use his leverage to draw Phil or K or Calipari, he's gonna do it. I'm just not sure that he, let alone anyone, has that kind of leverage.

But if Lebron chooses a team with a mediocre coach, he'll be setting himself up for several more years of disappointment. Mike Brown, Alvin Gentry, Stan Van Gundy -- these guys are just not on the same level as Jackson, Riley, L Brown, Popovich, and probably even Doc Rivers.

[Itamicbomb]

Isn't that the nature of 90% of college jobs? Feign interest so the university coughs up more dough?

Yeah, but he didn't even need the money - the program had already raised the cash through its own fundraising. They just needed permission to use the land next to Cameron. I think that's what made it so unlikely that he would leave - there is a slight, but not non-existent chance, that Duke would have let him leave over $15 million, but there was no chance that they'd let him leave over a few thousand unused square feet.

[Winger]

Gonna hop in with poorly thought out and not asked for opinions ....

The media and the folks in this thread are putting way too much value on LBJ. The media should be writing stories about how he hasn't played very well in the post season, instead they are all awash in coaches changing jobs to be with him. He is 25, has been in the league more than a little while, has played on the NBAs regular season champion for 2 years running and has 0 titles.

He ain't big enough to lure Jackson to Chicago (Jackson is either staying in LA or going to Montana).

He certainly ain't big enough to lure Coach K out of Durham. If Coach K ever left Duke for any reason I would be more than astounded.

He was big enough to indirectly get his own coach fired so Cavs management could dangle the "you can help hire the next coach" card in front of him, but what does that really say?

I don't even think he is big enough to lure Cal to Chicago.

He is big enough to get big time $$$$ from his next team, but the thought that the aged greatest coaches in the world are going to leave their gigs for Cleveland or Chicago seems far far fetched.

[MrBug708]

That's why I said he'd be taking a huge pay cut coaching anywhere, including LA. I can't in my right mind think that Chicago or Cleveland will pay him $10+. Even LA can't afford that long term, that should be a sign.

They can afford him, but I think management thinks the team can win no matter who the coach is so why pay someone 10-15 million a season when Scott will do it for 3-5 a season

[BeachCat97]

They can afford him, but I think management thinks the team can win no matter who the coach is so why pay someone 10-15 million a season when Scott will do it for 3-5 a season

And you saw where that kind of thinking got them before. Del Harris, Kurt Rambis, and Rudy T couldn't get it done in L.A.; the first two had Kobe and Shaq.

Phil Jackson wins titles; Byron Scott can probably get you to the West finals.

If Buss wants to get cheap, he'll hand deliver a title to Chicago or Cleveland.

But if Phil doesn't mind having his salary cut in half, Laker fans can rest easily.

[Reydituto]

It's not an issue of whether he's "hurting financially." It's an issue of whether Cleveland would offer him so much money that it would guarantee financial security for future generations of his family. I don't care how happy someone is with their job. If you're suddenly offered a chance to make 3-5 times as much somewhere else, you can't ignore that. Just the way the world works.

And how well Duke could do next season is irrelevant to this conversation. The guy's got 4 NCs and countless FFs. He's got nothing left to prove at the college level.

He already has guaranteed financial security for future generations of his family. Money isn't the end-all, be-all for him, he's already proven that by the jobs he's turned down.

BC97, I know you like to "take the dog for a walk" metaphorically speaking, but this is too much. K isn't going anywhere. He gets his coaching NBA players jones fix by coaching the Olympics and the occasional stud at Duke. He has no reason to prove anything at the pro level, he's a HOF coach period.

It's not unprecedented for an NBA team to give a college coach complete (or near-complete) administrative control; Celtics did it with Pitino.

... and we all saw how that turned out ... :rolleyes:

Do you think that if the Cavs offered him a Phill Jackson-esque contract of say...5 years 50 million (guaranteed), he would turn it down?

Yes.

The media and the folks in this thread are putting way too much value on LBJ. The media should be writing stories about how he hasn't played very well in the post season, instead they are all awash in coaches changing jobs to be with him. He is 25, has been in the league more than a little while, has played on the NBAs regular season champion for 2 years running and has 0 titles. ...

He is big enough to get big time $$$$ from his next team, but the thought that the aged greatest coaches in the world are going to leave their gigs for Cleveland or Chicago seems far far fetched.

Exactly. Well thought-out in fact.

But if Phil doesn't mind having his salary cut in half, Laker fans can rest easily.

You mean, take the "hometown girlfriend" discount? I think he's smoking sweet grass and playing bongos in Montana next year ...