Tom Izzo to coach the Cavaliers?

• hoops23

  

  Exactly SQ,
  
  None of the alternatives really grab my attention. I mean, Byron Scott and Avery Johnson would be solid, but I doubt Phil comes to Cleveland. Don't want no part of JVG, though I do like the guy.
• hoops23

  

  thedynasty1998;381951 wrote:Obviously it will take a lot of money to bring Izzo to Cleveland, but is he really worth $30 million? Maybe he is, maybe he isn't.
  
  There's no doubt in my mind that Izzo can handle the NBA game as far as schemes go, but with any college to the pro coach, it's about the egos. It's a different beast when you are coaching guys who have millions in their bank account to have fun with. Then you have the entourages and agents and all that, and it's hard to predict how someone can handle it.
  
  I'm one of the few who seems to think Calipari would be successful in the NBA in his second try at it. When that happens I don't know. But he will be in the NBA at some point. The reason I think he will be good is because he seems to be able to handle the egos of multiple stars on one team. He had a team with possibly six 1st round draft picks last year, and we didn't hear of one problem internally. As for the X's and O's, he isn't as good as Izzo, but he can always find assistants.

  
  IMO, the ego talk is VERY OVERRATED when it comes to college and pro coaches. If a guy like Mike Brown, who was never nothing more than an assistant with the Spurs can come in and bring a team together, why the hell would an established college coach with the reputation that Izzo has have any problems?
  
  As far as the money goes, it's not too much if you have the money to throw at him. Gilbert is loaded and he said he'd be taking high reward risks this offseason. He's definitely backing up what he's saying.
  
  Best owner in Cleveland sports and it's not even close.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Owners everywhere have money, and they don't get their money by being foolish with it. He obviously thinks Izzo is worth the money, but you can't say "it's not too much if you have the money". I do agree that it might be the high risk/high reward type of situation, but I just think there might be safer choices, and does he want to spend that kind of money if Lebron leaves town?
  
  But Mike Brown came from the NBA. He was around the players and saw how Popovich handled the egos. What can Izzo use in terms of experience? He's coaching 20 year olds who are eating Little Caesar's every night.
  
  And I actually think Mike Brown did an exceptional job of managing the egos on the Cavs, until what sounds like the last dozen games of his career in Cleveland, and that was due to Shaq. Mike Brown had the biggest superstar in the NBA and it seems to me like he kept him pretty motivated.
• hoops23

  

  Owners everywhere aren't billionaires. Besides, safe choices are BORING.
  
  Yes, Mike Brown came from the NBA, but he had no prior experience coaching. He had no accolades, no career achievements, nothing. And I don't think he demanded anything of LeBron except to play defense. I don't think LeBron's offensive game developed as much as it could have under Brown.
  
  Brown did a wonderful job though coaching the Cavs, I give credit where it's due. He got them to play defense, but he didn't have the prestige to coach the offensive side of the ball. When Windy says LeBron would wave off offensive sets to do his own thing, it tells me Mike Brown wasn't the coach we needed to get over the hump.
  
  Tom Izzo has a background, he has a prestigious history and he has the total package in terms of coaching ability. He demands respect and in turn, his teams usually love him.
  
  And let's not act like 20 year olds don't have egos, especially when playing big time college ball, because they do. Sometimes it's probably even worse than NBA players.
• wes_mantooth

  

  thedynasty1998;381960 wrote:Owners everywhere have money, and they don't get their money by being foolish with it. He obviously thinks Izzo is worth the money, but you can't say "it's not too much if you have the money". I do agree that it might be the high risk/high reward type of situation, but I just think there might be safer choices, and does he want to spend that kind of money if Lebron leaves town?
  
  But Mike Brown came from the NBA. He was around the players and saw how Popovich handled the egos. What can Izzo use in terms of experience? He's coaching 20 year olds who are eating Little Caesar's every night.
  
  And I actually think Mike Brown did an exceptional job of managing the egos on the Cavs, until what sounds like the last dozen games of his career in Cleveland, and that was due to Shaq. Mike Brown had the biggest superstar in the NBA and it seems to me like he kept him pretty motivated.

  
  Are you sure they ate Little Caesar's every night? Do you have a link or anything to back up this outlandish claim?
• hoops23

  

  PIZZA! PIZZA!
• lhslep134

  

  I haven't had Little Caesars in 8 years since they got rid of the one on Belmont Ave. in Liberty. Sounds delicious right now
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Due to Shaq?
  
  Huh?
• SportsAndLady

  

  Whether he is worth 30 million or not...to Gilbert, that is chump change.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Gilbert said he'd be willing to offer Phil 20 a year...wtf is 30 million??
  
  You don't win without spending money, I thought that Gilbert had already made that very clear to everyone--I suppose there are some half-brained stragglers.
• lhslep134

  

  hoops23;381963 wrote:Owners everywhere aren't billionaires. Besides, safe choices are BORING.
  
  Yes, Mike Brown came from the NBA, but he had no prior experience coaching. He had no accolades, no career achievements, nothing. And I don't think he demanded anything of LeBron except to play defense. I don't think LeBron's offensive game developed as much as it could have under Brown.
  
  Brown did a wonderful job though coaching the Cavs, I give credit where it's due. He got them to play defense, but he didn't have the prestige to coach the offensive side of the ball. When Windy says LeBron would wave off offensive sets to do his own thing, it tells me Mike Brown wasn't the coach we needed to get over the hump.
  
  Tom Izzo has a background, he has a prestigious history and he has the total package in terms of coaching ability. He demands respect and in turn, his teams usually love him.
  
  And let's not act like 20 year olds don't have egos, especially when playing big time college ball, because they do. Sometimes it's probably even worse than NBA players.

  
  Phenomenal post. Completely agree 100%
• SQ_Crazies

  

  hoops23;381963 wrote: And let's not act like 20 year olds don't have egos, especially when playing big time college ball, because they do. Sometimes it's probably even worse than NBA players.

  
  A LOT of times most likely.
• IggyPride00

  

  And let's not act like 20 year olds don't have egos, especially when playing big time college ball, because they do. Sometimes it's probably even worse than NBA players.

  It's a totally different world though, and you're comparing apples to oranges.
  
  In College, if an elite coach like Izzo or Coach K have a dispute with a player, they can discpline them or do whatever they want quite frankly because they have all the power.
  
  In the pros, if the coach has a dispute with a player (in this case Lebron) whose side is the owner going to come down on if he tries to publicly reprimand him? Lebron of course.
  
  In college Coaches have all the power, and in the pros the players have all the power. That is why the failure rate is so high.
  
  Most college coaches are successful because they micromanage and run a tight ship, in the pros that gets you no where as millionaire athletes don't listen to the coach the way college kids do. It is a fact of nature.
  
  To think dealing with egos in college is anything close to that of dealing with them in the pros is terribly naive.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Good post Iggy!
  
  In college you make guys run suicides in practice, in the pros you fine them. Just different beasts.
  
  I don't think you can say college kids have as big of egos as the pros. In the pros everyone is playing for their next paycheck. In college they are hoping to get paid one day. Hell, only a few players from a Michigan State team have a shot at the NBA, so it's not too hard to get Travis Walton to buy in.
  
  I do agree that Izzo makes a splash, and he will get a shot eventually so why not now with the Cavs. But I just don't see him being the hire that is attractive to Lebron. But then again, maybe he is.
  
  This is all very interesting to me. Some on here hate the daily rumors, but I personally enjoy it. It's fun to predict and criticize different rumors.
• I drain 3's

  Didn't really feel that it deserved it's own thread, and not sure how reliable the source is, but I found a link that states that the Cavs and Toronto are discussing deals involving Mo Williams. Any chance this could be a scenario of something like a sign-and-trade for Bosh? (Not Mo and Bosh straight up, of course)
  Here's the link - http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67069/20100607/cavaliers_raptors_discussing_mo_williams/
  
  Also saw on there that Izzo was close to being offered $6 million per year, for 5 years.
  Link - http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67062/20100607/cavs_close_to_making_izzo_offer_of_$6m_per_season/
• hoops23

  

  I'm 100% sure Gilbert and Grant are going to inquire about a s/t with Toronto for Bosh, they'd be dumb not to (and they're not dumb).
  
  Whether it happens or not is the question. If the Cavs take Calderon or Hedo, and Bosh, in exchange for Mo, Delonte, JJ, and some fillers, I think Toronto looks at it.
  
  Another thing not worth it's own thread, Carmelo Anthony said today that he thinks LeBron is staying in Cleveland.
• IggyPride00

  

  Whether it happens or not is the question. If the Cavs take Calderon or Hedo, and Bosh, in exchange for Mo, Delonte, JJ, and some fillers, I think Toronto looks at it.

  A deal like that would not be possible as the salaries would be no where close to matching up.
  
  Bosh and Hedo would be like $27+ million between them, and you have to come close to matching the salaries of what you're trading for. The number is 115%, meaning we can't receive more than 115% of what we trade away. They would not dream of taking Jamison back at his age and money owed, and to send them 20+ million of salaries they want would be next to impossible as the Cavs have nothing that it is soon to be expiring in that price range.
• hoops23

  

  IggyPride00;382622 wrote:A deal like that would not be possible as the salaries would be no where close to matching up.
  
  Bosh and Hedo would be like $27+ million between them, and you have to come close to matching the salaries of what you're trading for. The number is 115%, meaning we can't receive more than 115% of what we trade away. They would not dream of taking Jamison back at his age and money owed, and to send them 20+ million of salaries they want would be next to impossible as the Cavs have nothing that it is soon to be expiring in that price range.

  
  I know how the salary cap works.
  
  Obviously Wally would have to be used in the scenario as the Cavs still own his Bird right since he's not signed with another team or announced his retirement.
• thedynasty1998

  

  I understand the allure of playing alongside Lebron, but if I'm Chris Bosh, I've already let Pat Riley know to draw up my contract for me to sign. We are talking about Miami!
• Skyhook79

  

  I hope they do sign Izzo to a huge long term deal. It will provide several years of material and it will be Rick Pitino Part 2.
  
  
  
  "Doesn't know what happened to LeBron in the Boston series. Felt that he was in a depressed state during the series. Wasn't wearing suits after games. It could have been frustration, his elbow, or free agency."
  
  and he is suppose to be the GOAT?????? LMAO!!!!!!!
• krazie45

  

  Skyhook79;382852 wrote:I hope they do sign Izzo to a huge long term deal. It will provide several years of material and it will be Rick Pitino Part 2.

  
  Not sure what leads you to that conclusion other than just general trolling.
• jpake1

  

  thedynasty1998;382808 wrote:I understand the allure of playing alongside Lebron, but if I'm Chris Bosh, I've already let Pat Riley know to draw up my contract for me to sign. We are talking about Miami!

  
  If I'm Bosh, that's what I do too. Then if I'm Pat I call LBJ and let him know we've got room for one more if he would like!
• BR1986FB

  Reghi & Roda had some "Spartan Insider" on WKNR today. This well connected "insider" had lunch with Izzo today (Izzo had chicken fingers) and said it's "50/50" (I know, don't go out on a limb) that Izzo comes to Cleveland. He also said that it doesn't matter whether Lebron stays or goes as far as his decision goes. As long as Gilbert is committed to him for the 5 years he'll find a way to make it work. The guys on WKNR seem to think it's a better than 50% chance Izzo comes here.
• Pick6

  

  I dont care what anybody says, they are lying if they say that coaching lebron or not coaching lebron has no affect on his decision.
• krazie45

  

  So serious question here.....If this ends up happening and he takes the job. Does Loudville become the new Izzone?