Sacramento Interested in Cal

[Joneslab]

The Kings want Cal to coach and run the franchise.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--kings--john-calipari--kentucky-195614697.html

[Joneslab]

If this has gotten out, it means the George Karl well is totally poisoned and he's probably out.

And if that's the case, then they're likely going to make a formal offer. And it will be extraordinary.

At that point it comes down to the job itself. I'm not sure Cal enjoyed coaching Cousins when he was at UK; can't imagine that Boogie would be a guy that would make you want to jump to the NBA, even as talented as he is. Would take an incredible amount of day-to-day patience.

[KevinHall]

I would say that is a very tempting off for Cal. He may never get a better one for a pro job. It may come down to what he thinks of the owner and if he can work for him.

[DA#23]

Listened to this news on KSR just a minute ago. Apparently Cal and the owner are good buddies, and the thought is that he might get Cousins and Bledsoe.

You'd need at least two more bonafide players and a strong supporting cast, and I can't imagine that they could pull that together.

I'm not worried about this.

[Blue Heaven]

I wouldn't be worried if it were the Lakers or Celtics either. I believe Cal when he says he isn't going anywhere.

[Joneslab]

John Calipari‏@UKCoachCalipari 1m1 minute ago For the 100th time, I have the best basketball coaching position in the world. I am not looking for any other coaching position.

[Wonderstruck]

Haha. Love it.

[Joneslab]

DeCourcy on why this isn't even close to being the right job:

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2015-06-30/no-way-calipari-will-abdicate-his-throne-in-kentucky-to-take-over-the-sacramento-kings-wildcats-nba-ncaa

[Matt Dillon]

John Calipari‏@UKCoachCalipari 1m1 minute ago For the 100th time, I have the best basketball coaching position in the world. I am not looking for any other coaching position.

That seals it, he's gone.

[Vinnie]

How many times does Cal have to say he is not going anywhere before people believe him? Good thing Cal has a thick skin because if I were in his shoes this would really be getting old right now. Cal is not a Rick Pitino. Pitino said "he loved this place so much that he wouldn't leave for $30 million dollars." Pitino did leave and lied in the process yet a lot of UK fans still like him. Cal in my opinion is far more honest than Pitino and I believe him when he said that he wants to be at a job where he can affect young lives and steer would be pro basketball players in the right direction. I believe Cal and if Cal should leave then so be it but personally I don't believe he is going anywhere.

[Matt Dillon]

How many times does Cal have to say he is not going anywhere before people believe him? Good thing Cal has a thick skin because if I were in his shoes this would really be getting old right now. Cal is not a Rick Pitino. Pitino said "he loved this place so much that he wouldn't leave for $30 million dollars." Pitino did leave and lied in the process yet a lot of UK fans still like him. Cal in my opinion is far more honest than Pitino and I believe him when he said that he wants to be at a job where he can affect young lives and steer would be pro basketball players in the right direction. I believe Cal and if Cal should leave then so be it but personally I don't believe he is going anywhere.

You may be right, and probably are. I guess the thing that makes people just a bit nervous is the fact that he's listening to offers. That, and the fact people are known to change their minds.

[Joneslab]

I guess the thing that makes people just a bit nervous is the fact that he's listening to offers.

Where do you see that?

The original report says no offer has been made. The Kings have a coach so I would assume they're legally disallowed from even making an offer.

[Matt Dillon]

Where do you see that?

The original report says no offer has been made. The Kings have a coach so I would assume they're legally disallowed from even making an offer.

Calipari has been communicating with owner Vivek Ranadive and other members of the Kings' ownership group in recent weeks, league sources said. Calipari has listened to scenarios with which the Kings could offer him complete control of the franchise's fledgling basketball operations to go along with coaching, league sources said.

I humbly apologize for using an incorrect word. I should have said the fact he's been listening to scenarios. Scenarios or offers, either one is unsettling as far as I'm concerned.

[surveyor]

I can't imagine that even if he were interested in the NBA, that he'd want to coach Cousins in a pro setting. He likely had his fill of him the one year he was here.

[Joneslab]

Would be way more unsettled had Calipari not taken to Twitter and gone all caps.

When coaches have no interest in a job they generally don't shoot something down like that. Sometimes you get them saying they're going to stay when they leave, but it almost never happens like this. They'll hem and haw and sort of use doublespeak--they won't dismiss a rumor 58 minutes after it hit the air.

Anything can happen, but I'd be surprised if he took that job. That's a bad job. If he turned down Cleveland last year it doesn't really make much sense that he'd take Sacramento twelve months later.

Unless he can get something unbelievable like Donovan did, I don't think he's going to the NBA. I used to think it was going to happen, but now the window seems to be slowly closing. He might take a small-market job like Sacramento but it would probably have to be way more stable. Sacramento is one of the most unstable franchises in all of pro sports.