James Borrego ‘Getting Momentum’ With Cavaliers, Could Be ‘Leading Candidate’

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, James Borrego is “getting momentum” with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Borrego could be the “leading candidate” for the head coaching job in Cleveland. 

“So James Borrego, who they (the Lakers) interviewed about 10 days ago, he’s getting momentum in Cleveland,” Windhorst said. “He’s expected to interview there early this week as a potential leading candidate developing with the Cavs.”

.@WindhorstESPN on Dan Hurley’s expected decision about the Lakers’ HC job:

“The Lakers are on edge about this because they’ve thrown Dan Hurley the bouquet. … They’ve given him presumably the largest coaching contract offer in the history of the franchise.” pic.twitter.com/ICGX24QELA

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 10, 2024

In their coaching search, the Cavaliers have been linked to Borrego, Terry Stotts, David Adelman, Kenny Atkinson, Chris Quinn, Johnnie Bryant, Micah Nori, Dave Joerger, Alex Jensen and Steve Hetzel.

Borrego could get hired by the Cavaliers or Los Angeles Lakers. 

One NBA exec told Hoops Wire that the Cavaliers should hire Bryant as their next head coach to “appease” 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.

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