Before signing a new contract with the University of Kentucky, John Calipari reportedly met with the Cleveland Cavaliers to discuss a $60 million contract.
According to Yahoo Sports, Calipari and the Cavs had lengthy discussions about a possible contract before Calipari accepted the new 7-year, $52 million deal, from Kentucky.
Had Calipari accepted their offer, it would have made him the president and coach of the team, and would have allowed him to have final say over any roster moves over general manager David Griffin.
Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers’ owner, was persistent in getting Calipari to accept the deal that would have guaranteed him $8 million per year.
Rumors were circulating that Calipari would have taken the offer from the Cavaliers had the Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew, decided not to return to play for Kentucky. Along with the Harrison twins, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and Dakari Johnson will be returning to play for the Wildcats.
The last time that Calipari coached in the NBA was in 2000 for the New Jersey Jets.
The Cavaliers won last month’s lottery draft, making them the NBA draft’s number one pick. Along with Calipari, the Cavaliers have also met with the Clippers assistants Alvin Gentry and Tyronn Lue, the former Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro, the former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, Tom Izzo from Michigan State, and Billy Donovan from Florida. Lue and Hollins are said to have second interviews coming up, and Donovan has been keeping in touch with the Cavaliers about a possible position.
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