Rumors about John Calipari leaving Kentucky to accept an NBA coaching job are an annual tradition. The New Orleans Pelicans are this year’s subject.
John Reed of The Times Picayune reports that Calipari has made it known to Pelicans officials that he is interested in their head coaching vacancy. There have reportedly been “exploratory conversations” between the two sides, but the Pelicans are unwilling to meet Calipari’s financial demands.
According to Calipari, there are no financial demands. He says he has no interest in taking the job — even if it would present the opportunity to coach two of his former players again.
Even though Anthony and Tyreke are in NOLA, I have no interest in the Pelicans or any other job. I have a great job and I'm happy at UK.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 19, 2015
Calipari makes around $8 million per season at Kentucky and recently signed an extension through the 2022 season. The Pelicans are said to be offering somewhere in the $4-5 million range.
Could Calipari be lying? Sure, but we go through this every year. Calipari was supposedly in “deep discussions” with the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason, but he later said he would not have taken the Cavs job even if he knew LeBron was returning to Cleveland. There was also a bogus rumor that he was going to take the Los Angeles Lakers job.
For what it’s worth, there is still a belief among NBA officials that Calipari wants to return to the NBA. One of the biggest obstacles is that he has an incredible deal with Kentucky, and NBA teams are going to be reluctant to match it. If Calipari does want to coach in the NBA again, he’s going to have to want it badly enough to take less money.
