Lakers intend to contact Coach Cal and Kevin Ollie

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"The Los Angeles Lakers plan a drawn-out and exhaustive search to replace coach Mike D'Antoni, but sources close to the process insist that they hope to "make a splash" with their eventual hire. To that end, sources say, Lakers officials intend to reach out to two of the biggest names in the college game -- UConn's Kevin Ollie and Kentucky's John Calipari -- to at least gauge their interest in the job. The Lakers' immediate aims, sources say, are to focus on the draft and free agency and "hold back (on the coaching front) until they get a better sense of the marketplace."

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Another factor in their thinking, sources say, is leaving the coaching position open in the short term in case a potential free-agent target -- such as LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony -- tells team officials in July that he would consider coming to the Lakers if the coach of his choosing is hired. The team is not expected to pursue Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski this time, after unsuccessfully trying to lobby Krzyzewski to leave Durham in the past, but sources say that L.A. is "intrigued" by both Ollie and Calipari."

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