Cavs Rumors: Warriors' Atkinson, Pels' Borrego Targeted After HC Bickerstaff Fired

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly already have their eyes on multiple head coaching candidates.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Thursday that Cleveland fired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and is interested in Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and New Orleans Pelicans associate James Borrego as potential candidates to take over the job.

Bickerstaff led the Cavaliers to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, but the team won just one series and was well behind the Boston Celtics during its 4-1 loss in the second round this year.

There are also plenty of roster decisions that will need to be made, as Donovan Mitchell has just one more season on his contract before a 2025-26 player option. There have also been plenty of trade rumors surrounding the star, suggesting a move could happen this offseason.

What's more, Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reported Darius Garland's representation could discuss a potential trade if Mitchell ends up staying with Cleveland on a long-term deal.

"Rival executives believe the Cavs will have to seriously evaluate the fit of Mitchell and Garland and ultimately may have to choose one or the other," they wrote.

There will be plenty of uncertainty for whoever takes over as the head coach, although Atkinson and Borrego at least have experience to fall back on as candidates.

Atkinson has been an assistant for the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks and Warriors in addition to his head-coaching experience with the Brooklyn Nets. He led Brooklyn for four seasons from 2016-17 until he was fired after 62 games in 2019-20.

The Nets went to the playoffs in 2019 and 2020 but lost in the first round both years.

Borrego has been an assistant coach for the New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs and Pelicans. He was also the interim coach of the Magic for 30 games in 2014-15 and was the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets for four seasons from 2018-19 through 2021-22.

Charlotte never made the playoffs under his guidance but improved to 43-39 by his final season after it was just 23-42 in 2019-20.

Depending on how the roster shakes out this offseason, expectations will likely be higher for either candidate in Cleveland should they land the job.