Person familiar with plans says Michigan State’s Izzo plans to visit Cavaliers to discuss job

AP source: Izzo plans to travel to Cleveland

CLEVELAND — Tom Izzo may finally be ready to make the jump to the NBA.

Michigan State’s coach plans to visit the Cleveland Cavaliers to discuss becoming their coach, a person familiar with the visit told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Izzo, who has flirted with going to the pros several times in the past, is expected to travel to Cleveland later to meet with the Cavs and tour their facilities, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting on the coaching search.

Two people in East Lansing, Mich., said Izzo was on Michigan State’s campus all morning. They spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because Izzo and the school are not commenting on talks.

Izzo is believed to be mulling a massive contract from the Cavaliers worth up to $6 million per season. The team has been searching for a coach since firing Mike Brown following the club’s second-round playoff collapse to the Boston Celtics. Brown spent five seasons with Cleveland, leading the team to 127 regular-season wins the past two seasons. However, he failed to get superstar LeBron James back to the finals and the Cavs decided to make a change.

Izzo’s decision whether to join the Cavaliers could hinge on James’ future.

The two-time MVP can become a free agent on July 1, and is expected to entertain offers from several teams. It is not known if Izzo has contacted James, who has been with Cleveland for seven seasons and recently said the Cavs have “an edge” to re-sign him.

Earlier this week, new Cavs general manager Chris Grant said the team has had contact with Izzo but would not comment on whether an offer has been made. Owner Dan Gilbert is a Michigan State graduate and has known Izzo for years.

Text messages seeking comment were sent to Izzo and Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis.

Izzo has been at the school since 1983 and has been the Spartans coach since 1995, leading them to six Final Fours in the past 12 years. He has spurned previous overtures from the NBA, but the Cavs may have given him more to consider. Izzo must weigh leaving a comfortable situation for a chance to coach the Cavs, who don’t know if they’ll have James next season and beyond.

In recent years, several successful college coaches, including Rick Pitino, Tim Floyd and John Calipari, have struggled in switching to the pro game. Several of Izzo’s former players believe he can make the leap.

“I don’t think coach would have a problem getting respect in an NBA locker room,” said New Orleans Hornets guard Morris Peterson. “I think guys will buy into what he’s telling them because he has a gift with people. Izz is one of the smartest coaches in basketball and one of the nicest guys around.”

Milwaukee guard Charlie Bell said Izzo may have to work on his intensity.

“I’ve heard he’s not as hard on guys as he used to be,” Bell said. “He’d have to tone it down even more in the pros, but you can be intense like Scott Skiles is, but he’d have to adjust a little.”

Grant said the Cavaliers have spoken to a “number” of candidates. One may include former Hornets coach Byron Scott, whose resume would make him attractive to Cleveland.

Scott won three NBA titles as a player and has experience in coaching superstar players like Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. Scott is currently working as a TV analyst.