The names keep coming up in the Cavaliers’ coaching search, and now a fifth-known candidate will interview for the vacancy. Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, that candidate is Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori.
The Cavs reportedly are hoping to hire a coach before presenting an offer of a maximum contract extension to star guard Donovan Mitchell, as we relayed here. That offer is expected to be official in about a month.
Nori, 50, hails from Middletown, Ohio, the same town that gave the world NBA legend Jerry Lucas.
He has been the lead assistant under Timberwolves coach Chris Finch since 2021, and even filled in for Finch when Finch went down with a torn patellar tendon in his knee during a playoff game.
Before that, Nori was an assistant with the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors, dating back to 2009. He attended college at Indiana University and was set to become a high school athletic director when then-Raptors assistant and friend Butch Carter convinced him to join the Raptors.
The Cavs have now been granted permission to interview Nori, Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego, as well as Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn and New York Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant. They have been linked to multiple other candidates as well.
Along with hiring a coach and signing Mitchell to an extension, the Cavs hold the No. 20 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. League sources told Hoops Wire they hope to have a coach in place before then.
They are looking to replace J.B. Bickerstaff, fired after five-and-a-half seasons.
- Related | Cavaliers receive permission to interview Quinn, Bryant
- Related | Cavs receive permission to interview Atkinson, Borrego
- Related | Cavs not feeling motivated to trade Garland, core four
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NBA media promotion of Nori during the playoffs is the stuff careers are made of.
Guy gets asked to relay messages for injured coach.
They want a good story. Sells him as the one coaching.
Organization makes clear that’s not what’s happening.
But he’s got a certain look, a certain demeanor, a certain friendliness with the media, this guy is on the fast track for success.
Former NBA players and coaches, lifers sitting the sidelines in droves.
The NBA is a show. It’s not always the best basketball possible. Sometimes it will be about the characters they’re selling you as part of the show. Or a look.
Personally, I wish the Cavs would focus on going for the best basketball possible. Winning basketball games.