Tag Archives: Tom Izzo

SAM AMICO JOINS ME TO TALK CAVS, THE DRAFT, LEBRON JAMES AND MORE

FoxSportsOhio.com’s Sam Amico weighs in on what Cavs G.M. David Griffin might do in the draft, about trade possibilities, LeBron James coming back to Cleveland and who the coaching candidates might be.

Sam Amico Photo

NBA DRAFT LOTTERY COULD DETERMINE THE PLAYER AND COACH FOR THE CAVS

Tuesday night’s NBA Draft lottery is important in so many ways for the Cavs. First they’ll find out where they’ll be picking. They have a 1.7% chance of getting the first overall pick out of the number #9 spot. It has happened once before when the Bulls entered the lottery in the 9th spot and ended up winning the lottery in 2008 and selected Derrick Rose first overall. The Cavs also have a 2% chance of landing the second pick and a 2.4% chance of getting the third pick in the draft. That’s a 6.1% chance of moving up into the top three picks to have a shot at Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Joel Embiid.

But don’t forget other teams could leap frog the Cavs and bump them back to 10th, 11th or 12th spot.  However in the history of the lottery, 81% of the time the team in the 9th spot has selected 9th. That’s what happens when you don’t have enough ping pong balls in the hopper.

The second reason Tuesday night’s draft lottery is so important is that potential coaching candidates will be watching to see where the Cavs end up picking in the lottery and that could have a major effect on whether or not a candidate would consider the Cavs. Remember the Lakers, Knicks, Jazz and Timberwolves all have coaching openings and are all in the lottery just like the Cavs.

David Griffin Photo 5-13-14

The third reason the lottery is important to the Cavs is it will allow them to set up their first interviews with the coaching candidates on their list. My sources tell me that the Cavaliers have not interviewed any coaches yet, but will start in earnest post lottery. The front office, led by new general manager David Griffin, reportedly has been putting together a coaching list and the traits they’re looking for in their next head coach.

My first choice remains current Iowa St. head coach Fred Hoiberg. But sources tell me he may not want to leave the college ranks for the NBA just yet.  However, if I’m the Cavs I make that phone call and have him tell me no before you scratch him off your list.

The other names the Cavs could be considering are Adrian Griffin, Alvin Gentry, Mike D’Antoni, Coach K., Tom Izzo, John Calipari, Alex Jenson, Lionel Hollins, Nate McMillan, Mark Jackson, Vinnie Del Negro, George Karl, and David Fizdale. Leave no stone unturned. I may be missing a candidate or two, but you get the idea. Put a huge list together; see who has the traits you’re looking for in your next head coach and then make a phone call and see if they’re interested.

So the wheels will be put in motion once the draft lottery is decided. G.M. David Griffin will be representing the Cavs on stage Tuesday, not Nick Gilbert. Here’s hoping some of Nick’s luck rubs off on Griff so he can bring back one of the top three picks. If he does, that would make the Cavs job extremely desirable to all of the potential coaching candidates!

CAVS FIRE HEAD COACH MIKE BROWN A SECOND TIME

After one season in his second stint as Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown has been fired once again by owner Dan Gilbert.

Mike Brown Photo

Mike Brown press conference (4-16-14) after Cavs final game of the season on his future.

 

Brown was brought in a second time because Gilbert wanted him to reinstitute his defensive game plan and mindset with a Cavaliers basketball team that had no interest in playing defense under Byron Scott. While the Cavs made some progress defensively and improved their win total by nine games at (33-49) in a under Brown, not making the playoffs in a year Gilbert and many expected the Cavs to be in the post-season probably cost Brown his job for the second time in Cleveland.

While Brown is on his way out, interim GM David Griffin was promoted today to full-time general manager of the team and his first task will be to begin the coaching search for Mike Brown’s replacement.

Cavs GM David Griffin

Potential candidates the Cavs and Griffin could be interested in are Mark Jackson, Fred Hoiberg, Stan Van Gundy, Steve Kerr, George Karl, Lionel Hollins, Adrian Griffin, Nate McMillan, David Fizdale, Alvin Gentry Tom Izzo and John Calipari to name a few.

Griffin will hold an official press conference tomorrow morning at 11am at Cleveland Clinic Courts to address the changes.

PODCAST – MY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PICKS

Listen to find out who I picked to win it all in March Madness 2014