I wouldn't laugh at the headline, because that could actually happen. The Nyets new Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov wants a big name coaching his team and that big name could be Mike Krzyzewski.According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Prokhorov would hire USA basketball director of operations Jerry Colangelo who then would lure coach K to the Nyets. Coach K of course coached team USA and knows Colangelo and the USA team basketball players, many of whom will be free agents after the season ends.
That's why Coach K to the Nyets actually makes sense. The Nyets have a billionaire owner and they have tons of cap space. "With the Nets flushed with as much as $27 million in cap space, with several of Colangelo’s and Krzyzewski’s Team USA stars –LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh- available in free agency this summer, this would be a move that could trigger the most startling overnight transformation a professional sports franchise has ever seen."
Dream scenario for the Nyets would involve hiring Colangelo and Coach K, receiving the number 1 draft choice in the lottery, draft John Wall, and then sign James and Bosh. That would give the Nyets a starting lineup of Wall, LeBron, Bosh, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Brook Lopez. Not bad for a starting lineup. This team could easily win 60 games and be a major contender for a NBA title.
Of course Coach K would be leaving Duke after almost 30 years at that school and leave for the NBA where college coaches haven't been successful. I think it would be a long shot for Coach K to leave Duke. On the other hand though, Coach K has been out-recruited by Roy Williams and North Carolina. While UNC has had a down year this season, that won't last long and it's all up to Coach K and if he wants to be beat up by UNC and the rest of the ACC.
Either way the summer of 2010 in the NBA is shaping up to be epic. I more interested in the NBA offseason, than I am in the actual season.
From Russia, with Love: Nets eye Coach K (Yahoo Sports)
I'd LOL so hard at Duke if they do lose Coach K.
ReplyDeleteThen I'll LOL at the Nets because I don't think Coach K is someone who could be a successful NBA coach.
JFein, you could be a successful head coach with a starting lineup of Wall,Wade,Lebron,Yi/Josh Boone,Lopez.
ReplyDeleteRemember Coach K recruited Wall very hard and supposedly loves the guy. Question is would Stern rig the lottery to ensure the Nets get the #1 pick? Because that's the only way Coach K would even consider it.
@ kt: The sad part is is that is true and I know jackshit about NBA strategy.
ReplyDelete