The Cleveland Cavaliers’ stunning firing of JB Bickerstaff as their head coach has fans certain of his replacement.
The Cavaliers released Bickerstaff despite the team’s first berth in the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals in six campaigns.
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Bickerstaff coached the Cavs for four and a half seasons and won 99 regular-season games over the past two seasons.
The 45-year-old still had two years and nearly $10 million remaining on his contract.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Cleveland is interested in Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson and the New Orleans Pelicans link James Borrego as possible head coaching candidates.
But NBA fans believe Atkinson, who has coached the Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen and Caris Lavert in the past, is the right man for the job.
“Kenny Atkinson would be perfect for the Cleveland Cavaliers head coaching position,” commented one.
“Atkinson would be a good hire,” wrote another.
“Atkinson would be the choice because of his history with Allen and Lavert,” posted a third.
Bickerstaff led Cleveland to two consecutive playoff appearances.
However, the franchise only won one series and lost in five games to the Boston Celtics in the second round this year.
It didn’t help, however, that Cavaliers star guard Donavon Mitchell and center Allen didn’t play in the last two games of that round due to injury.
Bickerstaff joined Cleveland in 2020 as interim head coach.
He had a 170-159 record in five seasons with the team.
Cavaliers head coaching candidates Atkinson and Borrego have experience under their belts.
Atkinson was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons until he was fired after 62 games into the 2019-20 season.
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He only led the Nets to the playoffs once.
Atkinson has been an assistant on two teams, including his most recent job with the Golden State Warriors, where he won an NBA title with the franchise in the 2021-22 season.
As for Borrego, he also coached the Charlotte Hornets for four seasons.
The 46-year-old hasn’t led the Hornets to the playoffs once.
Whoever gets the Cavaliers head coaching job will have to coach a squad that has question marks surrounding its future.
Five-time NBA All-Star Mitchell has just one year left on his contract before his player option for 2025-26.
And his teammate and guard Darius Garland could request a trade if Mitchell remains with Cleveland on a long-term deal.
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