Report names two leading candidates for new Cavaliers HC

The Cleveland Cavaliers are searching for a new head coach, and they reportedly already have their eye on at least two candidates.

J.B. Bickerstaff was fired as head coach of the Cavaliers on Thursday after four-plus seasons with the team. 

According to a report from The Athletic, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson and New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego are two names to watch as potential replacements for Bickerstaff.

Both Atkinson, who is 56, and Borrego, who is 46, have previous head-coaching experience in the NBA. Atkinson went 118-190 as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020. He has since worked as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers and Warriors, whom he won an NBA title with two years ago.

Borrego was the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2018-2022. He was also the interim head coach of the Orlando Magic for a brief period in 2015. Borrego has an overall record of 148-183 as a head coach.

Borrego has also been mentioned as a leading candidate for a much more high-profile job.

The Cavaliers improved over the past few seasons under Bickerstaff. They made the playoffs last year for the first time since LeBron James left in 2018. While they lost in the first round a year ago, they made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals this year and fell to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Cleveland’s front office feels that Bickerstaff did not get the most out of the team even with the improved results. In addition to hiring a new head coach, the Cavs could also make at least one major change to their roster this summer.