Source close to Kevin Ollie says he plans to visit with Lakers in coming weeks about head-coaching j

[8893]

Nobody on here knows what KO is thinking or what he's likely to do.

To act like it's a foregone conclusion one way or another doesn't make sense but I mean if he's actually meeting the Lakers then I'm concerned.

The only foregone conclusion is that Jeff Jacobs will find a purpose and a willing audience here again.

 

[Leebo]

How is this new? We've known he was going to talk to the Lakers.

 

[SeattleHoop]

Much as I hate the Squid, he came right out and said "not now, not interested".

.

That is because the Squid is the highest paid coach in the league and his contract is set in stone you knucklehead. Ollie has incentive to meet with the Lakers based on his current contract situation.

 

[noeynox]

This Ain't Hard. Make This Man The Highest Paid Coach In This Conference. Pay Him More Than Smu Pays Larry Brown.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The part I don't get is why Ollie is allowing himself to publicly be a "candidate" for so long. A coach like Ollie either gets quietly offered the job or he doesn't. He doesn't let his name be used by the Lakers for whatever reason they are doing this.

 

[husky99]

How is this new? We've known he was going to talk to the Lakers.

Ollie going to L.A. is news and foolish if you do see it. This ends if ko says no thank u. by going to L.A. the door is still open.

 

[WestHartHusk]

The part I don't get is why Ollie is allowing himself to publicly be a "candidate" for so long. A coach like Ollie either gets quietly offered the job or he doesn't. He doesn't let his name be used by the Lakers for whatever reason they are doing this.

You have it backwards, Ollie is playing the Lakers for his own reasons.

 

[king conn]

If this is for leverage, why is it needed? Is he being lowballed by UConn?
If not, then why? If you fully intend to stay, you have to understand the impact of what you are doing. This will constantly be used against him in recruiting, every coach out there will be saying he could be gone at any time, why would you commit there?
Nothing good here.

 

[8893]

The part I don't get is why Ollie is allowing himself to publicly be a "candidate" for so long. A coach like Ollie either gets quietly offered the job or he doesn't. He doesn't let his name be used by the Lakers for whatever reason they are doing this.

Um, he's not being "used" by the Lakers. He's not being "used" by anyone; to the contrary, he's the one with leverage and in all likelihood his agent and those looking out for the best for him are telling him to "use" the NBA courting to his advantage while he is negotiating. That's the whole point.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Vegas has him tied with (I think) Byron Scott as the leading candidates for the job.

Vegas casinos aren't in the business of losing money, right?

 

[UconnU]

2 things concern me here he is a LA kid at heart, hes a smart man and knows his value.... ughhhh. Im nervous tbh.

 

[Horatio]

I'd only be concerned if Kobe was younger, healthy , without two recent career altering injuries and the Lakers were actually good. There most likely rebuilding with no indication of being good in the west any time soon. Besides, would KO really want to deal with Kobe?

 

[8893]

Vegas has him tied with (I think) Byron Scott as the leading candidates for the job.

Vegas casinos aren't in the business of losing money, right?

Let me know when I can bet on him not getting the job.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Let me know when I can bet on him not getting the job.

I mean, I don't gamble but I'm sure there's websites you could bet on ( if you were actually serious, I couldn't tell).

I'm just nervous. When it comes to off the court issues for UConn it's tough not to take a negative stance on things.

 

[OkaForPrez]

You don't close doors when it's harmless to keep them open. Going on an NBA job interview is a chance to increase Ollie's NBA network to yet another franchise and learn in the process. What is my fair market value? What does that do to the other side of the ledger? If ollie turned down a chance to meet with the lakers I'd be disappointed because he wasn't the competent leader I thought he was. Heck how can he educate his kids to gather all their info and make a well informed decision if he doesn't do the same?

Anything short of points on the franchise is sending Ollie back to Storrs.

The fact that some here are advocating for Ollie, who is genuine in everything he does in the public eye, to emulate calipari, a known bullshit artist who has previously made his word worth nothing in this exact scenario is mystifying.

Ollie is a pro behaving like a pro.

 

[scrappy2.0]

Am I the only one who feels no threat of KO leaving UConn right now? He probably will at some point but not now.

This will now be an ongoing negative approach rival teams will take against Uconn. Each year they will be subject to *Ollie is leaving* even our own recruit who said he is coming here just gave pause.

 

[Gurleyman]

This will now be an ongoing negative approach rival teams will take against Uconn. Each year they will be subject to *Ollie is leaving* even our own recruit who said he is coming here just gave pause.

Or, it will now be an ongoing positive approach that our assistant coaches will take for UConn. Each year they will say "Ollie chose staying at UConn over the LA Lakers". And our recruits will know our coach is so well-respected in NBA circles that the top franchises were after him after two years coaching in college - so he can help them get there.

Implying that a coach you're recruiting against is so good the NBA wants him is a double-edged sword. You can plant some uncertainty in a kid's head, but you also give him the thought that he can be coached by someone with an NBA pedigree.I also think KO, Warde and everyone know this and aren't too worried about some temporary rumors getting his name out there and giving him even more credibility.

Now if he actually does leave, well, we'll have to maintain strong ties and use that to our advantage instead.

 

[CL82]

Vegas has him tied with (I think) Byron Scott as the leading candidates for the job.

Vegas casinos aren't in the business of losing money, right?

Nope they are in the business of generating betting traffic among other things.

No doubt in my mind that KO is 1) reinforcing that he is a hot commodity with his current employers and 2) keeping himself viable as a NBA prospect by taking the meeting. It's the smart thing to do and KO is a smart guy. I'd be shocked, absolutely shocked, if he left, however.

 

[sawxfan23]

This simply can not be good for recruiting.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

This simply can not be good for recruiting.

Are we still looking to add to this year's recruiting class? Unless we are I don't see how this will hurt us.

 

[Leebo]

Ollie going to L.A. is news and foolish if you do see it. This ends if ko says no thank u. by going to L.A. the door is still open.

Sorry, I just fail to see how "LA wants to talk to KO" and "KO is going to talk to LA" are wholly different revelations. And I don't see why I should run around with my head cut off upon hearing them.

 

[tzznandrew]

This will now be an ongoing negative approach rival teams will take against Uconn. Each year they will be subject to *Ollie is leaving* even our own recruit who said he is coming here just gave pause.

This year is special, in that there's a contract negotiation. He'll hopefully sign a contract with UConn, in future years make a more definitive statement about staying at UConn (because he's not working on a contract), and then he can use this to his advantage on the recruiting trail.

 

[sawxfan23]

Are we still looking to add to this year's recruiting class? Unless we are I don't see how this will hurt us.

I can see every school UConn is recruiting against using the "Ollie might not be there next year" pitch in the future.

 

[sawxfan23]

This year is special, in that there's a contract negotiation. He'll hopefully sign a contract with UConn, in future years make a more definitive statement about staying at UConn (because he's not working on a contract), and then he can use this to his advantage on the recruiting trail.

He still has 4 years left on the contract he signed in 2012.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Um, he's not being "used" by the Lakers. He's not being "used" by anyone; to the contrary, he's the one with leverage and in all likelihood his agent and those looking out for the best for him are telling him to "use" the NBA courting to his advantage while he is negotiating. That's the whole point.

Ollie doesn't need to let himself be publicly dangled in the press to use it against Warde. I am pretty sure he could have done that behind closed doors.

Coaches of Ollie's stature either get offered the job or they don't. They don't chase it and they don't really "interview".