Spartan Hoopla: Tom Izzo to Cleveland Is Starting to Make No Sense

Reports that Michigan State coach Tom Izzo would make his decision regarding leaving for Cleveland on Saturday or Monday have turned out to be wrong.

Or maybe wrong is too harsh of a word. Let's say misinformed, for now.

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer has reported that Cavaliers superstar LeBron James has not, and will not, talk to Izzo about his stance on the coaching opening in Cleveland.

With the recent rumors about Izzo's departure from Michigan State, fans are starting to speculate.

And Dan Gilbert and coach Izzo may be to blame for a media frenzy that could in fact, produce no results for at least three weeks due to the free-agency situation in the NBA come July 1. The beloved coach Izzo is starting to resemble a pawn in the King's game.

James has said that he supports the hiring of Izzo "100 percent." But keep in mind, The Chosen One has nothing to do with Gilbert's decision.

James has said that he wants a coach with NBA experience, both playing and coaching. So what does Gilbert do? He flies to Boston to interview former NBA player and coach Byron Scott.

But again, James has nothing to with Gilbert's decision.

With any enigma like the Izzo coaching will-he-or-won't-he dilemma, several theories have been tossed around on message boards. The Cleveland.com and MLive.com boards are engrossed with conspiracy talk.

Most of them seem a little far-fetched, but there are a select few that make sense.

Is Izzo's consideration for the Cleveland job nothing more than a favor to a friend and Michigan State alum?

Gilbert could be fishing the market to see what teams are seriously interested in his 25-year-old basketball phenom.

The argument "I have six million reasons why Izzo would take the job" is irrelevant.

If money was truly the issue, he would be gone.

And money is not what is motivating Izzo. At least, that's what we'd all like to think.

The idea that Izzo is simply giving his friend's team hundreds of headlines in newspapers and online a day by remaining undecided isn't crazy.

The situation has been called a "smoke screen" by some. It's been called insane by others. Some have even went as far to say they're sick of it already—mostly Cavaliers fans.

Some would argue that Izzo is looking for glory in the NBA. Everyone knows that he wants to coach in the league some day, but is now the best time to make that jump?

What does he have to prove? He surely has made it loud and clear that he can win with less talent than other teams. He's shown that he can contend for a title on an annual basis.

Let's be honest here. Izzo has nothing to prove to anyone but himself.

Don't think for one minute that the thought of risking everything he has built in East Lansing in hopes to coach King James hasn't crossed his mind. And don't think that he hasn't carefully weighed his options—he's said so in multiple reports.

There is no guarantee that James will re-sign with Cleveland, just like there is no promise Izzo will vacate his position at Michigan State.

The saga will continue as long as James is calling the shots. And for a college coach that is used to being in total control that could be a turn off. The Cavaliers organization is showing its true colors right now.

And that color is green, for obvious reasons.