HoopsHype.com Rumors

If and when Saunders has to hire a head coach, those close to him point to a few names. Among those: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Houston assistant J.B. Bickerstaff. That likely won't happen for at least a year, as Taylor told 1500ESPN.com on Tuesday that Adelman's return appears "very favorable." 1500 ESPN

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Tom Izzo, Owners, Flip Saunders, Glen Taylor, Rick Adelman, JB Bickerstaff 

Dumars also figures to make a courtesy and brain-picking call to Tom Izzo, which might include a feeler to see if the Michigan State coach wants the challenge of a downward move in competitiveness and a sideways move financially. Izzo spurned the Cleveland Cavaliers three years ago, when LeBron James didn't return his calls before The Decision. The Pistons' Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond are more phone-friendly and if Izzo cared to return theirs. Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Coaching, Tom Izzo, Joe Dumars 

There are other unquestionably worthy names under consideration, according to sources close to the program, starting with Boston's Doc Rivers and another college coach who knows how to deal with the one-and-done nature of tournament basketball like Coach K: Michigan State's Tom Izzo. Rivers, meanwhile, has been pushing the candidacy of Philadelphia's Doug Collins, insisting that the best redemption for the injustices of the '72 Olympics would be setting up Collins to coach the Americans to the gold that eluded him and alternatively vowing to make Collins an assistant if he gets the gig. ESPN.com

Doc Rivers, Coaching, Tom Izzo, USA Basketball 

“I think he’s a terrific coach and a great guy,” said Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo, confirming only that Izzo is one of several possible candidates to replace Krzyzewski. “And I love his (style), he’s got a toughness to him that is very impressive. And he’s well-respected.” Lansing State Journal

Jerry Colangelo, Tom Izzo, USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics 

Colangelo is still a long way from picking the next head coach. He insisted he isn’t “locked in” to continuing with a college guy over an NBA guy, even though things have gone so well under Krzyzewski. If he does go college, Izzo would have to be on the very, very short list. If Colangelo opts to go with a pro candidate such as Doc Rivers, Izzo still would be a strong candidate to be an assistant. Lansing State Journal

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Tom Izzo, USA Basketball, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski, Olympics 

“I’d be honored to be any part of an Olympic team,” Izzo said in a phone interview Thursday. “It would be … I dreamed about the Olympics before I ever dreamed about college basketball or anything else. It’s always been at the top of my list.” Lansing State Journal

Tom Izzo, USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics 

Michigan State's Tom Izzo would love the opportunity to coach the U.S. men's basketball team in the Olympics. He's just not sure he'll get the call, figuring chairman Jerry Colangelo would opt for an NBA coach to replace Mike Krzyzewski after this summer's Olympic Games in London. Booth Newspapers

Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Tom Izzo, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

"I think they'll go with a pro guy," Izzo told The Huge Show's Bill Simonson on Thursday. "I could see a guy like (San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg) Popovich doing it. I really think a guy like Doc Rivers would be a great guy for that. Booth Newspapers

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Tom Izzo, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball 

"I've said this and I mean it: I'd be a water boy on the Olympic team," Izzo said. "It's just one of the dreams I've had. It wasn't to be the head coach, it was to be part of the Olympics." Booth Newspapers

Coaching, Tom Izzo, USA Basketball 

Coach Tom Izzo said Louisville coach Rick Pitino's failed NBA venture and advice helped convince him not to pursue an opportunity to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers: "It's like buying a car, if you have success with one style you buy another one the next time. If you don't, you change. I don't think anybody was saying this is a great move for you. Thank God I had an AD and an administration that at least let me look at something that was an incredible offer." CBSSports.com

Coaching, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino 

A Brink's truck was backed up near Tom Izzo's office at Michigan State on Monday morning. No, it wasn't sent by Dan Gilbert. But the Cleveland Cavaliers owner, who gave Izzo a chance to double what he's making this season, did try to encourage the beleaguered coach of his alma mater on Monday. "Hang in there," Izzo said Gilbert wrote in a text message. Washington Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Tom Izzo 

Izzo said he responded in kind to Gilbert, whose team had lost an NBA single-season record 24 straight heading into Monday night's game at Dallas. "I feel sorry for Cleveland, for Dan," Izzo said. "I feel sorry for our fans and for us right now." The Spartans have lost two straight - by 20-plus points for the first time since Izzo's debut season as head coach - and five of six to fall out of The Associated Press poll after being ranked No. 2 in the preseason. Washington Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Tom Izzo 

Patrick: "But the NBA's dead (as a job destination for Izzo), right?" Izzo: "The NBA's dead. Hell, if I don't start winning, Michigan State is going to be dead." Detroit News

Coaching, Tom Izzo 

Dan Gilbert, a Michigan State alumnus, Izzo fan and the owner of the Cavs, guaranteed him a lucrative $30 million contract - with the potential of coaching one of the NBA's great stars in LeBron James. In scratching the proverbial itch, Izzo found it a lot harder to walk away from the opportunity than he thought. "How often do you get this kind of combination?" he said. "The owner wants you as the coach. That doesn't happen very often. You have a chance to coach one of the best players in the world. And the money was sick. "Everyone was saying, 'You shouldn't take a job for the money.' And I kept asking, 'What do you take them for then?' Plus, Cleveland was a Midwest town, which was better for me." New York Daily News

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Tom Izzo 

When he called a press conference to reject the offer, Izzo declared himself a Spartan for life. "It wasn't like I didn't have a burning desire to be an NBA coach," he said. "A couple opportunities came to me and I don't even think about them, but it's comforting to know my university stood behind me on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's going to make me a better coach, a better advocate of college ball. I have great respect for the NBA. I think the good programs - they coach. The 'roll the ball out' thing isn't true. Do I think I could have made as big an impact in the NBA and I could in college? No. New York Daily News

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Tom Izzo 

Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo was the honorary pace car driver for the start of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday. Izzo said he'd been at his cottage the last few days when the news that both Mike Ilitch and Earvin (Magic) Johnson have talked about buying the Detroit Pistons franchise. Izzo said it would be a win-win, either way. "Kind of a politician's answer, but I don't mean it that way," he said. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Tom Izzo, Magic Johnson, Mike Ilitch 

And if Ilitch buys the Pistons? "Ilitch has done so much for our state, so much for Detroit," Izzo said. "I'm impressed that he wants to maybe take on three different pro teams. I think that talks about his commitment to the state of Michigan and Detroit in general. That would be impressive too. "He sure does know how to run an organization. What he's done with hockey is incredible. Baseball is still very competitive. If he can take basketball and do the same thing, it'd be a bonus for us." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Tom Izzo, Mike Ilitch 

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo admitted he was interested in LeBron James' announcement Thursday night, but didn't experience a sense of relief when the NBA superstar said he was moving from Cleveland to Miami. Izzo turned down a lucrative offer to coach the Cavaliers in June. Had he accepted, of course, he wouldn't have had James on his roster. "I didn't go to the, 'Boy am I glad I made the right decision' thing," Izzo told Rivals.com. "I really didn't. I had already gone through that in my mind, so this had no bearing on that. Detroit News

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Free Agency, LeBron James, Tom Izzo 

"I'm sure it looks like if I would have made the move it would have been a worse move now that (James) is gone, but I would have made it for more than one reason." Detroit News

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Free Agency, LeBron James, Tom Izzo 

Source: Cavs job hasn't been offered to anyone yet -- including Michigan State coach Tom Izzo Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Byron Scott, Coaching, Tom Izzo