After dismissing J.B. Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers franchise hired a new head coach who could take the team to the next level. Also, this current Cleveland Cavaliers head coach possesses the potential to elevate the franchise to become a championship contender.
The Cavaliers suffered defeat against the Boston Celtics after making it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals. After crossing this milestone with Bickerstaff, the franchise decided to dismiss the former head coach due to a lack of connection between the players and the coach. What would this new hire mean for the players in this 2024-2025 NBA season?
Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach – Kenny Atkinson
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Kenny Atkinson is the new head coach for the Cavaliers. Also, he’s the franchise’s fifth head coach since their last 2016 NBA Championship title.
Atkinson started his coaching career as an assistant at the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks. Then, he became the head coach for the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020 finishing with 118 wins and 190 losses (118-190). After that, Atkinson worked as a top assistant coach under Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors for four years.
Despite Atkinson’s win-loss margin at the Nets, his impacts while he served there for four seasons improved the outlook of the team and franchise. Also, in his third season with the Nets, the team made the playoffs which was a major achievement for the franchise.
As per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
The Cavaliers’ process had been pared down to Atkinson and New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego, sources said. Borrego, who worked the past season with new Detroit president Trajan Langdon in New Orleans, is now expected to become a prominent candidate in the Pistons’ coaching search.
What Do This Mean For The Cavaliers Players
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a vital offseason to improve their strength as solid championship contenders. After advancing to the semi-finals in the 2024 postseason series, the Cavaliers believe that they are close to becoming the next title defenders. Therefore, eradication of any roadblock should be one of their goals.
One of the roadblocks was the relationship between their former head coach and the players
Due to how the franchise values its players, the Cavaliers won’t tolerate any lack of connectivity between their players and the head coach. Also, the Los Angeles Lakers used the same criterion to hire JJ Redick.
Kenny Atkinson elevated Caris LeVert and Jarett Allen’s performance during his tenure as the Nets’ head coach. Therefore his ability to produce elite players from youngsters should favor the franchise’s offseason goals. Also, Atkinson’s creative playbook should complement Mitchell’s playing style as a two-way player.
The franchise has seen the importance of Donovan Mitchell to the teams and would desire to build around him. Mitchell is eligible for a four-year extension contract of $208 million maximum. However, if Mitchell declines this deal, it could give room for the young guard, Darius Garland.
Key Takeaways
While the Cavaliers’ offseason plans progress, Darius Garland might not be in the picture of the franchise’s future. Thus, Garland would demand a trade if Donovan Mitchell decides to continue with the franchise.
Kenny Atkinson is an excellent choice for this job because coupled with his coaching experience, he is a skilled player developer. With this skill, the 23-year-old Center/Power Forward, Evan Mobley, who is eligible for a five-year contract extension of $215 million, should improve his basketball career and blossom under Atkinson.
About the Author
Wisdom is an email and brand copywriter with two years of content writing experience. He started Cloud Kitchen Concept to help startups and business owners elevate their brands from good to great. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram to enjoy cooked meals for your business’s growth.
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