NBA Betting News: Rick Pitino Interested in New Jersey Nets Job?

According to a report from the New York Daily News, current Louisville Cardinals bench boss Rick Pitino has expressed interest in taking over the New Jersey Nets’ head coaching gig.

Say what?

Yes, the Nets.  The same team that’s dead last in the NBA with a woeful 4-47 record. It’s a franchise that’s in a state of flux to be sure — the team has no solid veteran presence and is led by a bunch of game, but ultimately inexperienced youngsters who are struggling to find their way in the NBA.

Pitino has had some solid success running the Louisville program, but this year, the team has flatined a bit. The losses of key players like Terrence Williams (who, coincidentally, was the Nets’ first-round pick a year ago) and Earl Clark has left the cupboard bare, and that’s left the Cardinals as a middle-range team in the highly competitive Big East.

Currently, the Cardinals are 15-8 overall with a 6-4 record in conference play. They have a decent shot of making the NCAA tournament and do have some quality talent in the likes of Samardo Samuels, Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith, so the question has to be asked — why would Pitino even consider leaving a solid program for arguably the most dysfunctional team in the NBA?

Well, for one, Pitino probably has an itch still left to scratch at the professional level. He’s had two significant but largely unproductive stints at the NBA level — from 1987-89 he coached the New York Knicks to two playoff appearances; that was followed by a disastrous four-year stint in Boston where he failed to earn more than 36 wins in a single regular season. All told, Pitino’s career NBA coaching record currently sits at 192-220, not exactly the greatest legacy for one of the greatest basketball minds of this generation.

Pitino is also likely interested by the fact the Nets have cap space to utilize in the highly-anticipated 2010 free agent class.  The list is a who’s who of elite NBA talent — LeBron James, Joe Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Manu Ginobili, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudamire and Carlos Boozer are just a few of the many names that could become available when free agency hits.

Over at the Sports Interaction online sportsbook, Pitino’s Louisville team is currently listed at 51.00 to win the 2009-10 Men’s NCAA Championship. Not horrible odds (putting them alongside Top-25 teams like Gonzaga), but certainly an indicator that the Cardinals aren’t a national powerhouse by any stretch.

So, what will Pitino do? Does he stick with the college game, or give the pros another try? While you’re contemplating this, why not head over to the sportsbook and check out both the NBA betting and NCAA college basketball betting lines available? Check them out today!