Cleveland Cavaliers to interview three veteran head coaches
By Chris Walder
Rather than go with a head coach who has little to no experience on the sidelines, the Cleveland Cavaliers will likely look to hire someone with a more proven track record to lead the team into the 2014-15 season and beyond.
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As Terry Pluto points out in his latest piece for Cleveland.com, both Tyronn Lue (assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers) and Adrian Griffin (assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls) are highly-touted candidates for not only the Cavaliers opening, but also for the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers as well.
Will they be given an opportunity? Probably not.
New general manager David Griffin will look at Alvin Gentry, Lionel Hollins and Vinny Del Negro — coaches who have years of experience on their resumes, unlike Lue and Griffin.
There will be a round of interviews set up over the next couple of weeks as Griffin attempts to get a new coach in place in time for the 2014 NBA draft on June 26.
Del Negro coached both the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers from 2008 to 2013, accumulating a record of 210-184. He’s currently an analyst for NBA TV. Hollins has a near identical record of 214-201 after seven seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. Gentry is the most experienced of the bunch as his time coaching in the NBA spans from 1994-2003, having led the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Clippers and Phoenix Suns.
The Cavaliers finished this past regular season with a record of 33-49. With their young nucleus still looking to get into a groove, perhaps a veteran mind to lead the way wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for them.