The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Who could be next coach of Cavaliers?
AKRON, Ohio – The Cavaliers have moved on from J.B. Bickerstaff as the team’s head coach. Now begins the search for who will lead the Cavs into the 2024-25 season and beyond.
Bickerstaff guided the Cavs through and then out of a deep rebuild after LeBron James’ second exit from Cleveland. After winning just 22 games in Bickerstaff’s first full season at the helm, the Cavs then won 44, 51 and 48 games over the next three years, respectively, as Cleveland became a playoff team in the East.
But a first-round playoff exit in 2023 and a second-round playoff exit in 2024 wasn’t enough for the Cavs brass, and they’re now searching for a new voice to guide the team.
Mike Budenholzer might have been a top candidate, but he’s already signed a five-year deal with the Phoenix Suns.
Here are some of the top intriguing candidates for the Cavaliers’ next head coach.
Kenny Atkinson: According to reporting from Shams Charania for The Athletic, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson is considered a leading candidate for the Cavs’ vacant head coaching job.
Atkinson won his first NBA championship as a coach with the Warriors in 2022 and has past head coaching experience from a stint with the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-17 through 2019-20.
In his roughly four full seasons at the helm of the Nets, Atkinson compiled a head coaching record of 118-170 with one playoff appearance, where his Nets lost in five games to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.
It’s worth noting that both Cavs big man Jarrett Allen and forward Caris LeVert were part of the 2019 Nets squad under Atkinson, so he has some familiarity with players already on the Cavaliers roster. That being said, ESPN’s Marc Stein has reported that the Cavs could trade Allen based on the interest he’s garnering around the league.
James Borrego: The other leading head coach candidate for the Cavaliers, according to Charania’s reporting, is New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego.
Borrego has experience as an NBA assistant coach dating back to 2003, and, like Atkinson, also has past head coaching experience as well.
Serving under legendary coach Gregg Popovich, Borrego won two titles with the San Antonio Spurs: in 2005 and 2007.
Prior to his most recent coaching stint as an assistant with the upstart Pelicans, Borrego served as head coach for the Charlotte Hornets from 2018-19 through 2021-22. He also got time as interim head coach with the Orlando Magic in 2015.
All told, Borrego has an NBA head coaching record of 148-183 with no playoff appearances, although he saw plenty of success as an assistant with Popovich’s Spurs.
Terry Stotts: Stotts has extensive head coaching experience in the NBA after being at the helm of the Portland Trail Blazers for parts of nine seasons. He also served as head coach for the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons each prior to joining Portland.
With the Trail Blazers, Stotts led Portland to three 50-plus-win seasons.
Stotts was set up to be an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks but stepped down in October of last year.
Stephen Silas: Silas has been working as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons and has NBA head coaching experience in his past (Houston Rockets). He also has drawn some high praise from Gregg Popovich.
Silas is the son of former Cavs coach Paul Silas, who led LeBron James in the early days of his career. And it’s always clear that if James is actually involved in possibly returning to Cleveland again, that could influence who takes over for Bickerstaff.
Luke Walton: Walton was first an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors when they beat James’ Cavs in 2015. He then served as Los Angeles Lakers head coach from 2016 to 2019, a period when James joined the Lakers, though injuries largely derailed any chances of building much in L.A.
Walton resigned after some poor results and became Sacramento Kings head coach from 2019 to 2021. The Kings had back-to-back 31-win seasons, and Walton was let go after opening the third year 6-11.
Walton was then hired by the Cavs to be an assistant with Bickerstaff on May 31, 2022.
JJ Redick: A former Duke standout and one of the best 3-pointer shooters during his NBA playing days, Redick is a trending name out there, though he doesn’t have any NBA coaching experience. He has shared in the past he’s been offered assistant coaching jobs with multiple teams.
Redick has been rumored to be a leading candidate for the Lakers’ head coaching position.
David Adelman: Adelman is the Nuggets’ top assistant and will be a popular name for any team needing a new head coach after Denver won last year’s NBA Finals and is on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference Finals this year.
Adelman, in his seventh season as an assistant with the Nuggets, has reportedly been given permission to interview with the Lakers.
Frank Vogel: The only coach among these eight with an NBA title to his credit as a head coach is Frank Vogel. But he’s available after a disappointing one-season run as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, who had huge expectations after adding Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to their roster alongside Devin Booker.
Vogel guided the Suns to a 49-33 record during the regular season, earning the No. 6 seed to narrowly avoid the play-in tournament. The Suns were then swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Vogel won his championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. His overall record is 480-422 during 12 seasons with the Pacers, Lakers and Suns.