The Cleveland Cavaliers have lost some of Kenny Atkinson’s coaching staff since their season ended.
Fortunately, it seems like assistant Johnnie Bryant won’t be going anywhere.
Bryant had been tied to the New York Knicks’ head coaching position, given that he coached there under Tom Thibodeau.
It’s still early in the process, but the Cavs don’t want to rest as they search for suitable replacements for Jordan Ott and DeMarre Carroll.
According to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype, the team has set its sights on several options.
“After being a finalist for Phoenix’s head coaching job, Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant is expected to return to Cleveland. With several voids to fill, the Cavaliers have interest in adding current Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley as an assistant coach, league sources told HoopsHype. Another potential addition under consideration for Cleveland’s staff is Jawad Williams, HoopsHype has learned,” Scotto wrote.
Atkinson improved the Cavs almost overnight.
Not many people expected them to be a legitimate championship contender this season, yet they led the Eastern Conference from start to finish, finishing the regular season with the second-best record in the NBA.
Of course, it wasn’t a one-man job.
While Atkinson deserves most of the credit, he had a strong staff by his side, and those unsung heroes are almost as important as the man calling the shots from the sidelines.
As such, the Cavs can’t afford to have Atkinson’s staff get more decimated in this coaching cycle.
If anything, they need continuity and to keep building from this season’s success.
The outcome was disappointing, but the process was encouraging.
If they’re not going to blow up the roster and will continue to double down on their core four, the Cavs might as well take the same approach with the coaching staff.
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