Should Tom Izzo have any interest in the Orlando Magic?

The Orlando Magic are beginning to ramp up their search for a head coach, but is Tom Izzo the right guy?

With a coaching search that sort of started immediately after the regular season, with the firing of Frank Vogel, the Orlando Magic have not done much. The process is finally ramping up now, with former Hornets coach Steve Clifford reportedly lined up for an interview. But a whole different level has been reached, with Michael Scotto of The Athletic reporting the Magic are interested in Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

Izzo is of course one the top coaches in college basketball history, with 574 wins (.718 winning percentage), one national title (2000) and seven Final Four appearances over 23 seasons at Michigan State. He is tied to the program going back even further, as an assistant under Jud Heathcote starting in 1983.

Izzo has been a rumored candidate to make the jump to the NBA before. The Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves have pursued him over the last several years, to no avail. The Pistons job is open now too, which prompted Michigan State president John Engler to deem Izzo as a “Spartan for life.” That should be obvious at this point, but the recent scandal at Michigan State surrounding Larry Nassar may alter Izzo’s desire to leave.

The Magic also have rumored interest in University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson as their next head coach. But Izzo is in a different stratosphere among college coaches, and convincing him to make the jump to the pros will be more difficult.

An added layer to the Magic and Izzo dynamic is next month’s draft. Two former Spartans’ players, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges, are in line to be lottery picks. Orlando sits between where both are pinned in at least one current mock draft, at No. 6 overall. But if Izzo is in place as an advocate a move up to secure Jackson could be in play, or a slight reach to draft Bridges could be in order. Maybe Orlando wants to interview Izzo in part to get his evaluation of Jackson and/or Bridges.

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Nothing can be ruled out with what’s been going on in East Lansing. But if Izzo does make the jump to the NBA, this year or down the road, he surely wants a situation far more ready-made for instant success than the one in Orlando.