Report: Pistons Offered Izzo Same Deal As Van Gundy
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
If the reports are true then Michigan State fans rejoice! It appears Tom Izzo will be a lifer with the Spartans.
A report surfaced over the weekend that the Detroit Pistons had offered Michigan State's head coach Tom Izzo the same five-year, $35 million deal that Van Gundy accepted.
It was first reported by Minnesota Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda and it makes sense to me.
The Pistons owner is a Michigan State alum and there was talk in late March that the Pistons were going to pursue Izzo for their head coaching gig.
Here is CBSSports.com's take on the issue:
If Detroit really wanted him, though, it makes sense that they'd need to overpay. Izzo is beloved in East Lansing, and going to the pros would come with significant risk. It's the same reason Brad Stevens got a six-year deal from the Boston Celtics, and it's why it is going to take an excellent offer to pry Kevin Ollie away from UConn or Fred Hoiberg from Iowa State.
I believe if Izzo really did turn down this deal then he will be at Michigan State for life. There won't be another deal like this out there that would pay you big time and give you complete control of a team -- as if he were in college.