NBA Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers contacted Mark Jackson
By Jack Crosby
With the NBA Draft rapidly approaching, it’s crucial for the Cleveland Cavaliers to try and get a head coach in place as they try to figure out what they’d like to do with their no. 1 overall pick.
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According to a report from ESPN’s Chris Broussard, to fill that vacancy they have recently reached out to one of the hotter free agent coaches on the market at the moment, former Golden State Warriors head coach, and current ESPN analyst, Mark Jackson.
Jackson was fired following the Warriors’ first-round exit from the playoffs at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers, despite the fact that it was the team’s second consecutive appearance in the postseason and things were certainly looking up for the organization going forward with the young, talented group they have on the floor.
It was reported that Jackson’s firing came because of some disputes with the higher-ups within the organization, basically cancelling out all of the success that he had with the team, as well as any that was projected in the future.
Immediately following his firing, he returned to the broadcast booth at ESPN where he is currently working the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs.
At this point, the Cavaliers hold that top pick in the draft coming up at the end of this month, and there’s a variety of ways they can go. Of course, they’re fielding calls from all over the place as teams try to trade up; although the talent at the top of the class might be too good to pass up in favor of moving down.
Jackson proved that he could do a lot with some young, talented basketball players while he was at Golden State, and depending on what the Cavaliers do in the draft, he could have an opportunity to replicate that success in Cleveland with Kyrie Irving and a fresh top draft pick.