John Calipari's seven-year, $52.5 million contract to remain with the Kentucky Wildcats suggests that he's not interested in the Los Angeles Lakers.
Larry Brown recruiting Mitch Kupchak?
Just as Phil Jackson's five-year, $60 million contract to become the president of the New York Knicks in March suggests that he may not pursue the Lakers' opening.
Meanwhile, the Lakers' coaching search crawls onward, with a lot of retreads having interviewed for the job. That's not to say that the candidates Mitch Kupchak has interviewed - Byron Scott, Mike Dunleavy, Kurt Rambis Lionel Hollins, Alvin Gentry and even George Karl - can't turn the Lakers fortunes around, but the sexy names of a coaching search obviously are missing.
Names such as Calipari and Jackson.
Jim Buss firmly in hot seat over his next Lakers coaching hire
Once upon a time not so long ago, the Lakers couldn't make a wrong move. Their latest display of magic began by wresting Pau Gasol away from Memphis Grizzlies for an unproven Marc Gasol.
The decision not to trade Andrew Bynum, as Kobe Bryant demanded, was golden. Acquiring Metta World Peace. And then the big one - Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets.
Until that trade was mysteriously voided for "basketball reasons."
But the Lakers still recovered and signed Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison to form a new nucleus with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher.
But the coaching moves since Jackson's exit in 2011 have been awful. Mike Brown couldn't win a game with that lineup (minus Nash after the first game because of a broken knee cap), and then Mike D'Antoni brought a system that was not compatible with the Lakers roster at the time.
While Jackson's name for some reason never was a consideration, Calipari's was, as was Larry Brown's and Kevin Ollie's. None of those coaches expressed interest.
"The coaching search is ongoing," Kupchak said following pre-draft workouts at the team facility Wednesday, according to Fox Sports. "As you've read, we've interviewed several candidates. We'll interview more. Other than that there's really nothing to add."
The search has been so lethargic that entertainer Ice Cube has endorsed Scott, who has a 416-521 career record (albeit with two NBA Finals appearances with the New Jersey Nets), followed by Derek Fisher, who has never coached a game.
If the Lakers are holding out for a sexy-name coach, it's getting hard to think of any about now. That may be why the franchise is taking its time - because there isn't much difference among Plans B, C, D, E and F.
Who represents a "sexy hire" that the Lakers still can pursue? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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