Attention Kentucky Fans

It was just reported that Calipari is interested in the Pelicans job.  Does he want the Pelicans job?  No.  He's laying down the path to his exit.  To another college?  Nah, UCLA and Duke and anywhere else doesn't really have anything that he doesn't already have at UK, making any move like that would be more of a hassle than a step up.  To the Pelicans?  No, finished 8th in the West with a hamstrung roster, we all love Anthony Davis but so far his only championship was at Kentucky.  To some other NBA job?  'Some other', no.  Lakers (not this year), Nuggets (hell no), Raptors (no thanks), Magic (too much youth, no), Thunder (didn't lobby for that gig, did he?), Nets (heh-heh, I can't believe I actually typed that).  No, not any NBA job but there is one.  And he's using today's New Orleans tweet to make his case for Cleveland.

He would take the Cavs job (assuming Blatt is run out of town) if it was offered.  Lebron has made the Eastern Conference Finals 8 of the last 10 years (5-2 so far in those games).  With Kyrie (and Love or someone else) by his side, I expect Lebron to make 6 of the next 8 Eastern Conference Finals.  That doesn't equal championships, mind you.  But its pretty good: a lot of wins, a lot of post-season attention, a lot of money, a lot of glamor when you're winning in the pros.  In pro basketball there are very few opportunities better than that Cavs gig.  And David Blatt clearly doesn't have the juice to hang on there for long.

Is Calipari the best choice for that job?  Not necessarily.  I think Alvin Gentry gives Lebron and Kyrie all the love/respect they need and strategizes to maximize the supporting cast as well as anyone around these days.  If Gentry could Warrior-ize the bottom of that roster, that could be the difference between a ring and no ring (or many rings and no ring).  Personally, I don't think Calipari possesses that particular skill the way Gentry does.  Lebron knows what the next few years hold and I'm sure it doesn't much matter who the coach is.  If he wants a free and easy coach who's not gonna get in the way, he'll campaign for Calipari; but if he really wants to win those 2-3 games at the end of the year that have mostly eluded him over the years, Lebron will hold out for Gentry.

Would Calipari take that job?  Yes.  Yes, he would.  I kinda thought Calipari would want Love on board (and that may be happening), but increasingly I think he'd take the job even without Love.  It could be that this is all part of the dance to be the Team USA coach when Coach K finally moves on (a plum gig that would NOT interfere with his Wildcatly duties).  Or maybe this is just his annual method of getting a raise from the taxpayers of Kentucky (money well spent IMHO).  But I bet you he's on the short list to coach the Cavs next year (and I'll be his name is higher on the list than David Blatt).

Wildcat fans, prepare yourself now to join the Brad Stevens welcoming committee.