Rick Pitino is planning to use the season to immerse himself in the NBA game and hopes to become a candidate for head-coaching openings in the spring.

“I think the league is going to get younger and player development will become even more important to every organization. That’s my forte. I believe I can help an organization find a pathway to success.”

For Pitino, this is a change of course from an early September public declaration to ESPN’s Mike Greenberg on Get Up that he was “finished coaching.”

Pitino has hired Drew Rosenhaus, a high-profile NFL agent, to represent him. The last thing the NBA needs is Rick Pitino. 

Been there done that.