Report: Cavaliers To Interview James Borrego, Kenny Atkinson This Week

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers will interview James Borrego and Kenny Atkinson this week. 

Borrego has also been heavily linked to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

“The only candidate known to visit Los Angeles other than Dan Hurley is New Orleans associate head coach James Borrego,” Windhorst wrote. “He is currently a finalist for the Cleveland Cavaliers coaching job and is expected to interview in Cleveland early in the week with Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson also scheduled for a visit, according to sources.”

Along with Atkinson and Borrego, the Cavaliers have been connected to Terry Stotts, David Adelman, Chris Quinn, Johnnie Bryant, Micah Nori, Dave Joerger, Alex Jensen and Steve Hetzel.

Cleveland fired JB Bickerstaff, who went 170-159 in the regular season and 6-11 in the playoffs. The Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic in the first round of this year’s playoffs but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round.

An NBA exec told Hoops Wire that the Cavaliers should hire Bryant as their next head coach to “appease” star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. Bryant worked closely with Mitchell on the Utah Jazz. The two have a very close relationship. 

“The Cavs fired JB (Bickerstaff) because Donovan didn’t like playing for him,” the NBA exec said. “This coaching search shouldn’t be that difficult for Cleveland. Everything should be about keeping Donovan happy. They should hire Johnnie to appease him. Those two are really close. Johnnie knows what Donovan likes and doesn’t like on both sides (of the court).”

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.

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.