Kentucky coach John Calipari leaving college basketball to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season is reportedly a "done deal." Although both sides denied the report, BasketballInsiders.com suggests their denial is because Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni is still under contract.
Hours before Monday's tipoff of the 2014 NCAA Championship, basketball analyst and former Kentucky player Rex Chapman tweeted Calipari leaving next season for Los Angeles was a "done deal."
Was messin' 'round on Sat nite re: Cal. But word is - win or lose 2nite - it's a #DoneDeal ...Cal 2 La-La-Land 2 coach Mamba's Lakers. #NoBS
— Rex Chapman (@rexchapman) April 7, 2014
Denials from both sides promptly followed.
"I spoke to (general manager Mitch Kupchak) and he said there is no truth to it," Lakers spokesman John Black said on Monday, via USA Today Sports. "Mike (D'Antoni) is our coach (and) there have been no conversations that have discussed any specific names about anyone to replace him."
Calipari also shot down the report.
"The Lakers have a coach," Calipari said after the 60-54 loss to Connecticut on Monday, via Sports Illustrated. "Kentucky has a basketball coach. I got the best job in the country. I'm not going to even dignify that stuff."
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart didn't put any weight into the rumor, either.
"For five years now, I think I know him fairly well," Barnhart said of Calipari. "If there was anything I need to be concerned with, he and I have had conversations, and in those conversations he's been very, very focused on this tournament."
BasketballInsiders, however, is skeptical and indicated both Calipari and the Lakers' denials could be out of deference to D'Antoni, whose team has five games left in the season.
"The Lakers have refuted this rumor, but that's expected with Mike D'Antoni still under contract," BasketballInsiders published in an update on Monday.
