Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Report: Cavs Pursuing Tom Izzo; Oliver Leaving Seton Hall
The Cleveland Cavaliers are pursuing Michigan State’s Tom Izzo as their next head coach, according to reports.
“If I was anywhere but at Michigan State, I would be interested in Tom, too, because he’s the best coach in college basketball,” Michigan State AD Mark Hollis told The Associated Press. ” Hollis added that there was “not a contract offer on the table.”
Izzo, who makes a reported $3 million annually, has led the Spartans to a 364-146 career record, six Final Four appearances and six Big Ten championships in 15 seasons. Michigan State won the NCAA championship in 2000 and reached the Final Four last season, falling to Butler in the national semifinals.
Next year’s team will have a legitimate shot to return to the Final Four thanks to the return of a strong core, including injured guard Kalin Lucas.
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is a Michigan State alum and is prepared to offer more than $6 million annually, according to The Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
In an email to the A.P., Gilbert said the team’s policy was not to comment on “any rumor about potential new hires, trades, free agent signing, etc.”
Hollis added: “I know Dan and Tom talk and that Dan has reached out to talk to Tom in the past.”
The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves have all reportedly had previous interest in Izzo.
After losing to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals May 13, the Cavs fired head coach Mike Brown May 24.
On June 4, GM Danny Ferry resigned.
LeBron James officially becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.
In related news, Carmelo Anthony, who is looking into a three-year extension with the Denver Nuggets, said he doesn’t think LeBron will leave Cleveland.
“I think he’s going to stay,” Anthony told Yahoo! Sports at halftime of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night in Los Angeles.
OLIVER LEAVING SETON HALLSeton Hall sources confirmed that 6-10 big man Melvyn Oliver is transferring. Oliver, who played sparingly under Bobby Gonzalez due to weight and conditioning issues, was touted by the former coach as a potential future NBA player.
“We think that Melvyn Oliver has the potential to be the single-most important recruit we’ve signed since coming here,” Gonzalez said in the release announcing Oliver’s signing. “I feel that he has pro potential and with some hard work and conditioning, we believe the sky is the limit for him. Melvyn is a very unique type of player as his skill level is off the charts for a guy his size. I think he is one of the biggest sleepers in the country and now has a chance to come into the BIG EAST Conference and really make some noise.”
FREE THROWSBrian Fitzpatrick , a 6-7 freshman, is transferring to Bucknell from Penn, per Mount Hermon coach John Carroll…Former Hoop Group guru Steve Ott is leaving to take an assistant coaching position at Siena... Boston College guard Brady Heslip will decide between Baylor, Boise State, Utah State, Oregon and Georgetown.
(Photo courtesy Lansing State Journal)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are pursuing Michigan State’s Tom Izzo as their next head coach, according to reports.
“If I was anywhere but at Michigan State, I would be interested in Tom, too, because he’s the best coach in college basketball,” Michigan State AD Mark Hollis told The Associated Press. ” Hollis added that there was “not a contract offer on the table.”
Izzo, who makes a reported $3 million annually, has led the Spartans to a 364-146 career record, six Final Four appearances and six Big Ten championships in 15 seasons. Michigan State won the NCAA championship in 2000 and reached the Final Four last season, falling to Butler in the national semifinals.
Next year’s team will have a legitimate shot to return to the Final Four thanks to the return of a strong core, including injured guard Kalin Lucas.
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is a Michigan State alum and is prepared to offer more than $6 million annually, according to The Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
In an email to the A.P., Gilbert said the team’s policy was not to comment on “any rumor about potential new hires, trades, free agent signing, etc.”
Hollis added: “I know Dan and Tom talk and that Dan has reached out to talk to Tom in the past.”
The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves have all reportedly had previous interest in Izzo.
After losing to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals May 13, the Cavs fired head coach Mike Brown May 24.
On June 4, GM Danny Ferry resigned.
LeBron James officially becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.
In related news, Carmelo Anthony, who is looking into a three-year extension with the Denver Nuggets, said he doesn’t think LeBron will leave Cleveland.
“I think he’s going to stay,” Anthony told Yahoo! Sports at halftime of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night in Los Angeles.
OLIVER LEAVING SETON HALL
Seton Hall sources confirmed that 6-10 big man Melvyn Oliver is transferring. Oliver, who played sparingly under Bobby Gonzalez due to weight and conditioning issues, was touted by the former coach as a potential future NBA player.
“We think that Melvyn Oliver has the potential to be the single-most important recruit we’ve signed since coming here,” Gonzalez said in the release announcing Oliver’s signing. “I feel that he has pro potential and with some hard work and conditioning, we believe the sky is the limit for him. Melvyn is a very unique type of player as his skill level is off the charts for a guy his size. I think he is one of the biggest sleepers in the country and now has a chance to come into the BIG EAST Conference and really make some noise.”
FREE THROWS
Brian Fitzpatrick , a 6-7 freshman, is transferring to Bucknell from Penn, per Mount Hermon coach John Carroll…Former Hoop Group guru Steve Ott is leaving to take an assistant coaching position at Siena... Boston College guard Brady Heslip will decide between Baylor, Boise State, Utah State, Oregon and Georgetown.
(Photo courtesy Lansing State Journal)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
