Report: ‘Fluid and ongoing’ Cavs coaching search could take a bit longer

Per Tom Withers, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ search for a coach to replace J.B. Bickerstaff could persist past this week, and the team has already interviewed five people — James Borrego, Kenny Atkinson, Dave Joerger, Micah Nori and Johnnie Bryant — to be its newest head coach.

“The team has interviewed five candidates, including former NBA coaches James Borrego, Kenny Atkinson and Dave Joerger, two people with knowledge of the team’s search process told the Associated Press on Thursday,” Withers wrote. “One of the people said the search remains ‘fluid and ongoing.'”

“The Cavs have also interviewed Minnesota assistant Micah Nori and New York Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant. They could meet with other candidates in the coming days, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting during the process.

“It’s possible the search could extend into next week, one of the people said.”

Borrego — who is seemingly in play to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers — has reportedly really impressed the Cavaliers when the two sides have communicated.

He previously served as head coach of the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets. He was 10-20 in the regular season as head coach of the Magic and 138-163 as head coach of the Hornets in the regular season.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggested the Cavaliers’ coaching opening is perceived as a more desirable job than the Lakers’ opening despite the fact that Los Angeles has one of the best players in basketball history in LeBron James on its roster.

The Cavaliers fired Bickerstaff shortly after the team lost Game 5 of its second-round series against the Boston Celtics, which marked the end of Cleveland’s stint in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Bickerstaff spent more than four seasons as the head coach of the Cavaliers, and during that time, he led the team to a 170-159 regular-season record as well as a pair of appearances in the playoffs. He went 6-11 with the Cavs in the playoffs.

His most impressive playoff accomplishment leading the Cavaliers from the sidelines came when Cleveland eliminated the Magic in seven games in the opening round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Prior to sending Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and company home, the Cavaliers hadn’t won a playoff series since James left the team back in 2018.

It’s up for debate as to which of the five candidates the Cavaliers should hire to be the 24th head coach in the history of the franchise, but all five names have experience coaching in the NBA as assistant coaches, head coaches or both.