No coaching search is complete without at least an attempt to lure coach Mike Krzyzewski away from Duke.
The Los Angeles Lakers tried, and failed, according to Basketball Insiders. The team had similar success with Kentucky coach John Calipari, who denied interest in the job after his team’s national championship loss and continued to reject the Lakers’ offer.
Now they’ll look elsewhere with their next coach.
League sources said the Lakers made their usual run at Duke Head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is not leaving Duke. During the National Championship game, the Lakers interest in Kentucky coach John Calipari was leaked. Coach Cal immediately shot down the idea, although several people involved have said had Coach Cal wanted the job it would have been his.
Next up on the Lakers’ list is Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie.
Ollie boasts experience as an NBA player and impressed the league by coaching the underdog Huskies all the way to a championship. Ollie hails from Los Angeles and could get strong references from Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden from his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ollie is expected to interview with the Lakers, according to reports, but is also undergoing contract extension talks with Connecticut.
Source close to Kevin Ollie says he plans to visit with Lakers in coming weeks about head-coaching job. Meeting not yet set up but expected.
— Bill Reiter (@foxsportsreiter) May 6, 2014
According to FOX Sports, Connecticut is willing to double Ollie’s salary, so it is clear the program will not let their championship-winning coach leave too easily.
Ollie received a seven-month contract when he was initially hired to replace Jim Calhoun, and received a five-year contract worth $7.5 million in December of 2012.
Like Calipari, Ollie can reject the Lakers’ offer and still be on the short list of highly coveted college coaches contacted for jobs next year — as long as he keeps winning, of course.
The Lakers are also expected to reach out to North Carolina coach Roy Williams, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Another name to add to the Lakers’ list of coaching candidates: North Carolina’s Roy Williams. They plan on talking to him…eventually.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) May 5, 2014
Williams rejected to interview for the same position back in 2004, perhaps his mind has changed 10 years later.
