Report: James Borrego ‘Leader In The Clubhouse’ For Cavaliers Coaching Job

Borrego met with the Cavaliers on Tuesday (6/11).

“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. 

Borrego has coached the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets. He is 148-183 in the regular season.

Borrego has never made the playoffs as a head coach. 

The Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of this year’s playoffs in five games after beating the Orlando Magic in the first round in seven games. 

“Borrego, a Gregg Popovich protégé and two-time champion as an assistant, has a 148-183 mark as head coach with Charlotte and Orlando,” Fedor wrote. “Multiple sources describe him as humble, innovative, engaging and diplomatic. Even though he has his own general ideals and philosophies, he is willing to learn and listen. All those qualities, sources say, have come across to the Cavs in their multiple interviews with him over the last few weeks.”

The Cavaliers will meet with Kenny Atkinson this week as well. Most people around the NBA expect Cleveland to hire Borrego or Atkinson.

The Los Angeles Lakers are interested in Borrego too. 

Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell can sign a four-year, $208 million extension this offseason. He is under contract for next season and has a $37 million player option for 2025-26.

If Mitchell becomes a free agent in 2025, he is eligible to sign for a max of five years and $269.9 million with the team that holds his Bird rights (the Cavaliers now) or four years, $200.1 million with a new team.

If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with the Cavaliers this offseason, the thought is that Cleveland will look to trade him before free agency in the offseason of 2025.