Cavaliers Receive Permission To Interview David Adelman For Head Coach Job

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers have received permission to interview David Adelman for their head coach job. 

Adelman is an assistant with the Denver Nuggets, who won the championship last year against the Miami Heat. 

ESPN Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers have received permission to interview Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman, sources tell ESPN. He’s also met with the Lakers on their opening, too. pic.twitter.com/x53FYPTWtk

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2024

The Cavaliers have now been linked to Adelman, Terry Stotts, Johnnie Bryant, Chris Quinn, Kenny Atkinson, James Borrego, Dave Joerger and Micah Nori.

Atkinson and Borrego are the leading candidates to get the job. 

Cleveland fired JB Bickerstaff in an effort to keep Donovan Mitchell. The front office may also retool the roster this offseason to keep Mitchell happy after losing in the second round of this year’s postseason to the Boston Celtics in five games. 

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.

Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season while shooting 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 86.5% from the free-throw line.

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.

Sources told Hoops Wire that the Los Angeles Lakers, Heat, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers would attempt to acquire Mitchell if the All-Star didn’t extend with the Cavaliers. 

Mitchell has career NBA averages of 24.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists with the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers. He scored a career-high 71 points last season against the Chicago Bulls.