University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari has been in the news quite a bit as of late following a rumor surfacing he’d be the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The timing of the rumor was strange to say the least with Kentucky heading into the national championship game against the University of Connecticut, but it was quickly dismissed by the head coach after the loss to UConn.
— Lakers Nation Store Is Back! Check Out The Latest Gear! —
On Tuesday, Calipari continued to deny any connection with the Lakers or job offer that might be in the works. Calipari said the following on ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless according to Marc Stein:
John Calipari on First Take to @RealSkipBayless and @stephenasmith when asked if he'd take the Laker job if offered: "No. I wouldnt."
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) April 15, 2014
With Mike D’Antoni’s fate hanging in the balance, there very well could be another head coach in place by the start of next season. The last two seasons have been an absolute nightmare for the Lakers organization and D’Antoni could be a victim of their shortcomings after the worst season in franchise history.
Although the team has been reluctant to announce their intentions, many believe D’Antoni could be fired once the season comes to an end. D’Antoni has one guaranteed year left on his deal with the team, but the Lakers might want to start over once again in order to help draw free agents, satisfy the fan base and potentially please current players like Kobe Bryant.
As for Calipari, it seems inevitable that he’ll return to Kentucky. Despite the fact that his hiring by the Lakers would be a potential game-changer and a sign that the team wants to right the ship immediately, it appears highly unlikely that he’s headed to Los Angeles forcing the team to pursue other options if D’Antoni is not retained.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Pau Gasol Receives Standing Ovation In Final Lakers Home Game