Crazy, right?
Try these reports on for size
Marc Stein:
As we just discussed on @SportsCenter, I'm told money details in Cavs' pitch to John Calipari were closer to $80 million range over 10 years
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 9, 2014
Cavs' thought process: If you can convince Calipari to make the move to Cleveland, it gives Cavs MUCH better shot at bringing LeBron home
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 9, 2014
$80 million?! That’s ridiculous money – and if true – incredible Calipari turned it down and very telling about his perception of Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers. That, unlike the originally reported offer, is a lot more than he’s making at Kentucky.
Apparently, making coaching decisions on the slimmest chances of landing LeBron James has become en vogue. But the Lakers doing it too makes that strategy no less absurd. I suppose Calipari would help Cleveland’s chance of luring LeBron, but I doubt going from miniscule to extremely slim is worth $80 million.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports doesn’t buy that higher salary offer, but he adds another wrinkle.
After 7 years as coach/president, there was talk of transition to president-only for Calipari-Cavs. Still, offer was 7 years, $60M-plus.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 9, 2014
Calipari failed with the New Jersey Nets, but he might deserve another chance to coach in the NBA. But a promotion? C’mon. Calipari is a fine coach, but there’s nothing in his résumé that indicates he deserves to become a president of an NBA team. It’s barely tolerable as a secondary title – assuming there’s a powerful general manager in place – to go along with coaching, but to make that his primary job would even more misguided.
.@JasonLloydABJ tells us people in the #Cavs who should have known didn't find out about the Calipari offer until the report came out today.
— Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) June 9, 2014
.@JasonLloydABJ follows up by saying he believes GM David Griffin was unaware of the offer to Calipari. #Cavs
— Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) June 9, 2014
Before covering that, it’s worth noting Joe Lull of 92.3 The Fan’s report:
David Griffin became the Cavaliers’ interim general manager mid-season when they fired Chris Grant. I believe it would have been helpful to clue in your general manager, even if he was just an interim and especially if he might become permanent, about your pursuit of a coach.
More importantly, Griffin became permanent general manager when Cleveland fired Mike Brown as coach. That means either Gilbert went behind Brown’s back or Griffin’s. Neither is a good look.
Pick and choose what you want to believe about the the Cavaliers’ pursuit of Calipari. There are definitely conflicting accounts. But whatever you’re left with, there are definitely some strange details.