The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be opting for stability on the sidelines and in the front office.
Despite getting swept in the Eastern Conference Finals by the New York Knicks, the Cavaliers will be looking to bring back head coach Kenny Atkinson along with his entire coaching staff and the team’s entire front office, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon on Tuesday.
Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018, when they last made the NBA Finals with LeBron James still on the team.
Despite reaching the conference final, the Cavaliers appeared to struggle through most of the 2026 post-season, needing seven games against both the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons before falling to the Knicks.
Controversially, while the team was on the verge of getting swept by New York, Atkinson said the Cavaliers were actually ahead analytically.
Unfortunately for Atkinson and the Cavaliers, his analytic model didn’t play out, despite the team being the most expensive roster in the league this season, thanks to the trade-deadline acquisition of James Harden to pair up with fellow max player Donovan Mitchell.
Cleveland will have decisions to make on both Harden and Mitchell as Harden can be re-signed and Mitchell is extension eligible.
