Michigan State players left a meeting with Tom Izzo Tuesday night believing he was going to leave to accept Gilbert's offer to become the next Cavaliers coach.
Sources are telling The Plain Dealer that Michigan State Spartans players believe Tom Izzo could be close to taking the Cavaliers head coaching position.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dan Gilbert already seemed to pull the sword from the stone once when he got Ohio to approve casinos after numerous failed attempts. He just may be on the verge of doing it again.
Sources have told The Plain Dealer that Michigan State players left a meeting with Tom Izzo Tuesday night believing he was going to leave to accept Gilbert's offer to become the next Cavaliers coach. Izzo didn't tell them that, he called the meeting to acknowledge reports that he'd been offered the job, but players left afraid they were about to lose their coach.
Several other sources, however, indicated Izzo hadn't made his final decision as of Wednesday afternoon.
Izzo has declined offers to leave for the NBA numerous times over the last 10 years, including recently. A Michigan State trustee told both the Chicago Tribune and the Detroit News that the Chicago Bulls talked to Izzo about their open coaching job before hiring Tom Thibodeau.
Trustee Joel Ferguson told the Tribune: "Tom thought he could get the job" with the Bulls.
Yet despite passing on the Bulls, at least some Spartans players seem worried it will turn into a yes this time. A difference in the two jobs, in addition to the possibility LeBron James would re-sign, is that the Cavs likely have a larger budget for their coaching position than the Bulls.
Gilbert has offered Izzo at least $6 million a year to leave East Lansing after 15 highly-successful seasons.
The entire ordeal is applying stress to Michigan State and the uncertainty may also be affecting recruiting efforts. Still, Izzo may take several more days before making a firm decision.