The Cavaliers have made their first important decision in what promises to be a franchise-altering offseason.
Cleveland will hire Kenny Atkinson as the franchise’s next head coach after firing J.B. Bickerstaff this offseason, ESPN.com reported.
The move could be considered somewhat of a surprise with former Hornets coach James Borrego previously considered to be the favorite for the position.
Bickerstaff’s dismissal came despite leading the Cavaliers to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since LeBron James left the team for the Lakers in 2018.
The Cavaliers lost in five games to the eventual champion Celtics.
The Cavaliers will have to decide if star guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland can co-exist and if that pairing is the future of the franchise.
Atkinson, a Long Island native, was last a head coach with the Nets in 2020 and had been an assistant for the Clippers and Warriors since he was fired by Brooklyn.
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