Izzo Will Not Coach in Cleveland

Contradictory to a previous report published by many Cleveland area websites, Tom Izzo will not become the head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers next year. Izzo has declined a five year, $30 million dollar contract which would have doubled his annual salary from what he currently earns at Michigan State.

Now that the Cavaliers have missed out on the opportunity to sign former Dallas Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson, Byron Scott will likely become the primary target for the Cavs. Scott was the coach of the year with the New Orleans Hornets. If the Cavs sign Scott, this could possibly persuade Chris Paul to join the Cavaliers via trade with New Orleans.

This decision by Izzo to return to MSU offers some valuable insight about the LeBron James sweepstakes this summer. If Izzo had known that James would return to Cleveland, my guess is that he would have taken the job. However, since LeBron has offered no hints as to where he will call home next year, the decision became more of a risk for Izzo. If the Cavaliers could land Scott though, Paul and James could be a formidable combination next year.

Chris Paul is known as a passing point guard and often is in the top three in the league with assists. However, he also is a legitimate scoring option which LeBron is in desperate need of in Cleveland. The trade would likely involve Mo Williams, Antawan Jamison, and/or Jamario Moon.

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LeBron, DWade, Turkoglu, and CP3 on the Move?

Below are three rumors that have been recently reported. I'll assign them each a number value from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most likely to happen.

LeBron could be going to New York next year to play basketball. No it's not for the New York Knicks. The Harlem Globetrotters is the newest team that is involved in free agency rumors. In a report released earlier today, the circus like basketball team (also the winningest team in basketball history) is attempting to court both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. How could they expect to compete with the salaries that will be upwards of $120 million that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat can offer James and Wade respectively? The Globetrotters are willing to make James and Wade part owners of the organization. While this is certainly an attractive option to the athlete who wants to become a billionaire (James), NBA fans shouldn't worry too much about this option. Both players will be in the NBA next year.

Chance LeBron plays for the Globetrotters? 1

Chance Wade plays for the Globetrotters? 0

Hedo Turkoglu was an integral part of the Orlando Magic's run to the NBA Finals two years ago. This year in Toronto was a very different story, however. Turkoglu struggled for most of the year and never really got into any sort of rhythm on either end of the floor. His averages were down this year to a dismal 11.3 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, and 4.1 assists per game. His woes could be over if he is traded to a rebuilding Sacramento Kings team though. With Tyreke Evans, a lottery pick this year, Omri Casspi, and Turkoglu playing for an organization that he wants, the Kings could make progress this year. We'll have to see where this move would go, but most likely it would be Turkoglu for expiring contracts so that the Raptors can attempt to lure some free agents.

Chance Turkoglu is traded to the Kings? 7

The last rumor that is still in somewhat of a developmental stage involves New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul. It's no secret that Paul was not happy with the Hornets performance this past season, and with the possibility that Peja Stojakovic will play in Greece next year, Paul would lose some of the supporting cast that he's become accustomed to. The emergence of Darren Collison isn't exactly a plus for Paul since both players are pure point guards. Chris Paul has been reportedly linked to the Cavaliers for next year. A trade that will likely involve Mo Williams and possibly Jamario Moon or Antawan Jamison could send Paul to handle the ball for the Cavaliers next year. Much like my analysis of the Tom Izzo decision, I see this trade (if it happens) as a positive for Cleveland fans that are praying that LeBron stays in Cleveland. This trade would certainly be a step in the right direction.

Chance Paul is traded to the Cavs? 5

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Sit Your Ass Down!

I have lived in Ohio ever since I was six years old. So naturally, I love LeBron James.

Okay, I need to apologize. I told a lie in the previous sentence, and I have grown up in a Cleveland suburb since the age of six.

Let's just get this roast started. LeBron James. The "King". Whatever you want to call him. Living only fifteen minutes away, I thought that I would interview him for this article. However, he didn't have much to say. In fact, all I was able to get out of him was "gackkkkk". I'm pretty sure he was still choking from the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But let's be honest folks. If you were in LeBron's shoes, would you have tried in the playoffs? I mean aren't championships just given out these days? Hold on, what do you mean they aren't? Uh oh. Someone better tell him.

As a fan of the NBA, I will admit that James is an excellent player....in the regular season. Come playoff time though the guy has a better vanishing act than Houdini did. Superman took him out last year. The Truth and The Big Ticket stamped his ticket for an early exit this year. LeChoke will be back next year, but if I were him I would try to get the best deal I can on plane tickets. He can book a flight anytime after May 20 though. Not too concerned with him making it to the Finals....and I'm talking about the Conference Finals.

But these recent playoff failures can't be his fault right? Sure Mo Williams didn't show up. You can't tell me that changed the series this past year. The team with the best record for two consecutive years is bounced from the playoffs early in two consecutive years. Not LeBron's problem. Let's fire the coach. He couldn't get it done. Mike Brown was not the head coach of the Cavaliers. King Shame was calling the shots. Mike Brown was a figure head, and anyone who says different is lying to your face.

At least LeBrick is showing some respect for the league that he has in a chokehold though. He's no longer wearing number 23 on his jersey next year in order to honor Michael Jordan. The problem? He's changing it to number 6. Apparently Dr. J isn't worthy of the honor of King Lame. I don't have a problem with a player changing numbers. The best player in the NBA (Kobe Bryant) did it when he stopped wearing 8 and switched to 24. At least he didn't insult our intelligence and claim it was to honor NBA greats. It's a marketing scheme to make more money. Once more, I don't have a problem with it. Just give us a little more respect.

I'm going to have to quickly interrupt this article. LeBron is crying again. It's okay. We all know how to handle this because it happens all too often. Let's just blow a whistle and whatever injury he's acting out will go away. He will then step to the line and make one of two if it's a good day.

Alright now that we have that out of the way let's address LeBonBon's actions throughout the playoffs. A report of him calling John Wall, the point guard from Kentucky, and trying to recruit him for James' marketing agency surfaced right before the playoffs were starting. The playoffs didn't phase The Crab Dribbler though. He was more concerned with the image of his company. Just following in the footsteps of the greatest playoff performers in the NBA. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (6 and 4 rings respectively) also wouldn't concentrate on the playoffs right? Hmmm maybe not. Is that how you become successful? Through the hard work that both of these great players have put in? I mean come on, Chris Rock couldn't even break Kobe's concentration in Game One of the NBA Finals Thursday night. If Drama Queen James can laugh so much on the bench when he's chilling with Mo Williams and Anthony Parker, I can only imagine what a professional comedian like Chris Rock would do to his concentration. Shoot the Cavs could have been kicked out of the league by now for their performance if Rock attended Cleveland games. Thank goodness he's a Knicks fan.

Bottom line...LeBron is a good player. He's great. He just doesn't want it enough. He's been coddled by the media ever since his high school years, so he expects success to come his way. Until he matures and realizes that championships are a rarity for a player in this league, he will never be respected on the level that Jordan and Bryant are. So take a long hard look at that limestone sculpture of yourself in front of your house LeBron. Stop with the excuses. Stop with the crying. It's getting old. Put up or shut up. Until then, take your own advice. Sit your ass down.

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Shaq Serious About UFC

Apparently Cavalier's center Shaquille O'Neal was simply misunderstood last summer. When Shaq proclaimed that his goal was to "get a ring for the King" we all assumed it was an NBA Championship ring. Now I'm second guessing myself on what exactly Shaq meant.

Shaq wants to enter the octagon and fight in a cage match. He trains for mixed martial arts (MMA) every summer. Ohhhhh could that be why he disappeared in the playoffs? Some extra training time? Maybe Mo Williams wants to be an MMA fighter, too. Okay that's enough. I'm sorry Cavs fans; I know the wounds haven't yet healed.

O'Neal challenged the biggest star in UFC, Chuck Liddell,to a bout, but UFC President Dana White is completely confident that the UFC poster boy would easily handle O'Neal. So how excited should Shaq fans and MMA fans be about a possible crossover match or two to the sport? It doesn't seem likely within the next few months, but Shaq could participate sometime in 2011.

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