Report: James Borrego has seriously impressed Cavs in talks

The Cleveland Cavaliers continue their search for a new head coach after firing J.B. Bickerstaff just a few weeks ago. According to recent reports, James Borrego is a candidate who has seriously impressed the top brass within the Cavs organization.

Borrego currently serves as an assistant coach under New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green. However, it appears as though he’ll likely be taking a major step in his coaching career in the near future.

Not only do the Cavs seem to be highly interested in Borrego, but the Los Angeles Lakers also reportedly have him near the top of their list.

While teams like the Cavs are not often considered to be top destinations when compared to teams like the Lakers, L.A.’s recent dalliance with University of Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley may end up giving the Cavs the advantage as the teams pursue Borrego.

“But there’s a sense that Borrego may have been turned off by the Lakers’ sudden flirtations with UConn coach Dan Hurley, a courting that ended up going nowhere, with Hurley deciding to stay in the college game,” wrote Sam Amico for Hoops Wire.

“If that’s true, then Borrego may be more apt to take the Cleveland job. (If offered, of course.)”

If the Cavs are truly intent on making Borrego their next head coach, they will likely try to strike while the iron is hot. Given a recent report from Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, it certainly seems like the Cavs might be intent on just that.

“Sources tell cleveland.com that New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego, who has been viewed as the ‘leader in the clubhouse’ since late last week, met with president of basketball operations Koby Altman and other members of the organization on Tuesday,” Fedor wrote.

Fedor added that many with ties to the Cavs organization have spoken highly of Borrego.

“Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin was not only the architect of Cleveland’s 2016 championship roster but Altman’s mentor,” he wrote. “One of Cleveland’s old executives was on the coaching staff alongside Borrego this past season. There’s also former Cavs forward Larry Nance Jr. and others. Sources say all of them have spoken positively about Borrego.”

For the Cavs, this head coaching search has to feel like an important one. They are a talented young team with multiple weapons on both sides of the court. There was a belief amongst a sizable portion of the Cleveland faithful that Bickerstaff failed to get the most out of those weapons.

Certainly, the Cavs front office will want to hire someone who it feels can light a fire under the talent on the roster in order to realize the team’s full potential.

If the new head coach can manage to do that, there is no reason why the Cavs can’t contend for a top seed in the Eastern Conference. After that, it’s simply a matter of getting hot at the right time while in pursuit of an NBA championship.

Time will tell if the front office believes that Borrego is the right man for that job.