How Much Money Will It Take For The Cavs To Land Tom Izzo? (Hint: A Lot)

On the heels of this morning's report that the Cleveland Cavaliers may have offered Tom Izzo a head coaching job, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Brian Windhorst checks in to clear the air with some definitive reporting. The Cavs haven't offered Izzo yet, but when they do, they will NOT be messing around. Big numbers, here:

According to multiple sources, Gilbert has discussed the framework of a massive contract offer to Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. Gilbert, a Michigan State graduate, has handled the recruitment personally and Izzo is said to be mulling the chance to jump to the NBA.

The offer is said to be worth approximately $6 million annually and would be for up to five years, much larger than the industry standard for a coach without previous NBA head coaching experience. The offer might also be loaded with potential bonuses and perks including free use of one of Gilbert's private jets.

Most of the NBA's most attractive coaching candidates, including Izzo, seem to reluctant to join up with the Cavs before LeBron James makes a decision in free agency. If James bolts for say, Chicago, then the cupboard in Cleveland suddenly looks a lot more bare. Gilbert knows this. That's why he's willing to put up so much cash, even a coach with Izzo's security can't say no. Of Gilbert's response to the "wait-and-see" approach from candidates like Izzo, Windhorst writes:

This is a position most in the NBA have taken since Brown was fired. It appears Gilbert is trying to overcome this worry by presenting such a large salary and benefits.

Izzo's base salary at Michigan State is $1.6 million with a guaranteed $1 million in bonuses per year. After leading the Spartans to their sixth Final Four in the last 12 years, Izzo hit bonuses that jacked up his pay package to more than $3 million. Gilbert, it seems, has offered to double that.

And you can say this much for Gilbert and the Cavs: They may have something of an inferiority complex when it comes to LeBron's impending free agency, but as far as this coaching search is concerned, it certainly looks like they'll be swinging for the fences.