Why John Calipari, Kevin Ollie and other college coaches should pass on the Lakers job
It was the moment that virtually every Lakers fan had waited months for: The team fired head coach Byron Scott Sunday night.
With Scott out, the conversations turn to who the next head coach should be. The obvious first name is Luke Walton, and beyond him, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson and Mike Breen have all been listed as well. Ok, not Mike Breen, but his other broadcast partners are definitely in the mix.
Still, because this is the NBA, and because every NBA fan-base believes that every college coach is itching to give up millions of dollars a year, on a campus where they're kings to come to the professional level, a bunch of college coaches have been mentioned too. Sure, the Lakers aren't sure if they have a first-round pick, sure they have a young and unproven roster, and no, they haven't actually lured a star to the organization via trade or free agency since 2012 ... but all these college coaches are coming to LA!
Unfortunately that's not the case. And here is why the three biggest college coaches associated with the job won't be coaching the Lakers next season.
John Calipari, Kentucky:
Every year a slew of NBA jobs open up, and every year a slew of reports come out linking John Calipari to those vacant gigs. It really is a mid-spring tradition right up there with the weather warming and trees blooming.
Thankfully, it seems like the NBA (and the media which covers it) have finally figured out that, unless the circumstances were unspeakably good (like say, LeBron James made a personal call and said 'I need you coach) Calpari isn't coming to the NBA. Unlike years past, Calipari's name hasn't been mentioned by any major reporter who covers the NBA, although it was thrown around on LA sports talk radio Monday.
In terms of the actual reasons Calipari won't be coming to the NBA, well they're much the same as previous years: He's the king of Lexington, and is already compensated like an NBA head coach, making close to $7 million a year.
Plus, as stressful as it is to replenish his roster every year, Calapari has a system that works. His incoming recruiting class is considered the nation's best and it's a trend that is likely to continue as long as he stays at Kentucky. At this point he's picking players, not the other way around.
Oh, and if you want one more reason Calipari isn't coming to the NBA: His son Brad just committed to play at the school next year.
Unless Calipari wants a divorce, he isn't going anywhere.
Jay Wright, Villanova:
For years Wright's name was routinely thrown around in NBA circles, a trend that stopped a few years ago. Of course one NCAA title later and Wright's name is back in the mix. First it was the Suns, and now the Lakers. That's what happens when you win a championship?
Of course while Wright's name has never been hotter in NBA circles, this would actually be the worst possible time for him to leave Villanova. Wright spent all of Final Four week talking about how long it took to build his program the right way, so why step away? That's especially true in this particular off-season, when it's likely that a good chunk of Wright's championship team will return, including leading scorer Josh Hart, and the hero of this year's Final Four Kris Jenkins.
And if there was any doubt that 'Nova is as committed to Wright as he is to them, there's that tiny little $22 million donation that was made to the basketball program. (program or to the school for the arena)
Simply put, Wright isn't going anywhere.
Kevin Ollie, UConn:
Of all the college coaches linked to the Lakers job, Ollie's name seems to make the most sense. He is in a less advantageous position at the college level (with UConn playing in the AAC) and has the clearest tie to the Lakers: He's an LA guy, who was linked to the job two years ago before Byron Scott got it. Ollie also has an NBA background as the former teammate of Kevin Durant. Many believe Ollie can lure KD to LA when he hits free agency this off-season.
Of course, if the biggest reason to take the job is "the chance to get Kevin Durant" that probably isn't a strong enough reason to leave Storrs. Ollie is still the king of Connecticut, and it's worth mentioning that like Calipari there are personal reasons to stay put too; Ollie has a son who plays football at Fordham and a daughter still in high school locally.
There will be a time and a place for Ollie to consider NBA offers, but going to an organization that has gone through five coaches since 2011, doesn't seem like that spot.
Aaron Torres is a contributor for FOXSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Aaron_Torres or Facebook. E-mail him at ATorres00@gmail.com.
