John Calipari and LeBron

As you surely already know, LeBron James and his Cleveland team lost to Boston last night, ending the Cavs' season in the second round of the playoffs. And in case you haven't paid any attention to the sports media over the last year, last night's loss could very well have been LeBron's last game in a Cleveland uniform.

What does that have to do with college basketball?

John Calipari.

If given the option, will Coach Cal choose to stay at the collegiate level?
(photo credit: Sparty and Friends)

Everyone has been talking about it for what seems like months now, but the theory that many with so-called insider knowledge have been tossing about is that Coach Cal, if given the opportunity, would jump at the chance to head to the NBA to coach LeBron. There are a million reasons why: they share the same agent; they have become very close over the last year; their ties to William Wesley; of LeBron's four possible destinations -- New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Cleveland -- three are looking, or will very soon be looking, for a new head coach.

All legitimate reasons. And by all accounts, Calipari heading back to the league is very, very possible, despite what Coach Cal says.

My question: when did John Calipari become Phil Jackson?

Coach Cal has never struck me as a great basketball mind.

He's great at the collegiate level because he can land the best talent; you would be hard pressed to find a better recruiter than Cal. He can seemingly bend, maybe even break, the rules while keeping his name clean. Sure, he's had two Final Fours erased from the record books, but was any of it actually pinned on him? (Hint: the answer starts with N and ends with O.)

As much as anything, being able to recruit is how you win at the college level. In a single game scenario, great coaching can win you a game. Devising a clever game plan, making smart, strategic adjustments, and the ability to have a feel for your team and the game isn't an easy thing to do. But just as important, and possibly even more important, is having talent on your roster, a derivative of great recruiting. The only team since the 60's that has won a national title without three players on the roster that have made the NBA is the 2003 Syracuse team that had Carmelo Anthony.

Calipari has never won a title in college despite. He made two Final Fours in 18 years as a head coach at the college level. He couldn't make the Final Four this past season with a roster that could send as many as five players to the lottery, including what will likely be two of the top five picks.

He wasn't much better in his three years at the helm of the Nets. He won just 26 games his first season before making the 1998 playoffs his second year in the league. During the lockout shortened 1998-99 season, the Nets were a trendy pick in the East, but Cal was fired after a 3-17 start to the season.

Would you call Calipari a student of the game? Is he on the same level as someone like Greg Popovich or Phil Jackson or any of the other potential candidates for the job openings in Chicago, New Jersey, or Cleveland?

If Calipari does get a job in the NBA, it will essentially be a recruiting tool, an attempt to land the most sought after free agent ever.

And while getting LeBron is a huge step for any franchise, it won't necessarily guarantee a championship. Coaching is much more important in the NBA than it is in college. A big reason why is that the talent is much less spread out. Imagine if the NCAA strictly consisted of the ACC and the Big East. All the all-americans, all the all-conference players, and all the 7-footers across the country would be stuck on those 28 teams.

Talent wouldn't get you as far, because there would be a much smaller talent discrepancy.

The same goes for the NBA.

There are less than 400 roster spots available in the NBA, who picks from a talent pool that spans the globe. The drop off from an elite player to an above average player is not as big as it is in college.

Which means that the ability of a coach to maximize his players's and his team's talent is that much more important.

So I ask again, is John Calipari really a good enough basketball coach to do that?

If you believe the rumors, we could very likely find out starting next season.