The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson because the franchise’s subsequent coach, sources advised ESPN on Monday.
The edges have began work on a contract, and a deal is anticipated to be reached quickly, sources stated.
The Cavaliers’ course of had been pared all the way down to Atkinson and New Orleans Pelicans affiliate head coach James Borrego, sources stated. Borrego, who labored the previous season with new Detroit president Trajan Langdon in New Orleans, is now anticipated to turn out to be a outstanding candidate within the Pistons’ teaching search, sources advised ESPN.
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Atkinson, the highest assistant with the Warriors, takes over a Cavaliers roster that superior to the Jap Convention semifinals and gained 99 regular-season video games over the previous two seasons. He joins a company that features two key gamers who blossomed throughout his tenure because the Brooklyn Nets coach — Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert.
Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman and normal supervisor Mike Gansey are particularly anticipating Atkinson’s respected participant improvement program to influence younger heart Evan Mobley, sources stated.
Cleveland’s offseason precedence turns totally to securing All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell on a contract extension. He has one yr left earlier than he can train an early termination possibility.
Atkinson, 57, was 118-190 in three-plus years with the Nets, inheriting a full rebuild and displaying enchancment every season till he resigned after an injury-plagued 2019-20 season. He spent the 2020-21 season with the LA Clippers as an assistant earlier than becoming a member of Steve Kerr’s employees as the highest assistant in 2021. Two years in the past, Atkinson briefly accepted the Charlotte Hornets’ head-coaching job earlier than altering his thoughts and remaining with the Warriors.
Atkinson is presently in Paris, the place he’ll function an assistant coach for the French nationwide staff in the course of the Olympics.
Atkinson spent 9 seasons as an NBA assistant — 4 with the New York Knicks, three with the Atlanta Hawks earlier than returning to the assistant-coaching ranks with the Clippers and Warriors.