The Cavs’ coaching search is already underway

The Cavaliers’ season, as painful as it is, is far from over. But, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd, the team’s search for a head coach is underway and current coach Larry Drew doesn’t seem to be a serious candidate.

Not that he seems to mind. Drew told The Athletic “I don’t know if I ever want to be a head coach again after this year.”

According to Vardon and Lloyd, the Cavs are likely to hire a first-time head coach with experience developing young players in the G-League or NBA. The names the article lists as possible hires are: Nuggets assistant Jordi Fernandez, Magic assistant Steve Hetzel, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, Hawks assistant Chris Jent, Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley and Jazz assistant Alex Jensen.

All of the names listed here have connections to the Cavs. Fernandez, Hetzel and Jensen used to coach the Canton Charge, the Cavs’ G-League affiliate. As it happens, ex-Charge GM Mike Gansey now is key member of Koby Altman’s front office staff. Griffin interviewed for the Cavs job in 2014 when the team hired David Blatt. Jent was previously a player development coach with the Cavs and Mosley was an assistant with the Cavs from 2010-2014.

It is too early to know exactly who the Cavs really want, and per the report, they have not yet zeroed in on any specific candidates. A good sign here is that they are interested in coaches who specialize in helping young players grow. With Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman and a lottery pick to come, that may matter more than anything.

As for Drew, he was dealt a tough hand taking over for Tyronn Lue six games in and coaching a roster that is both bad and ripped apart by injuries. This is likely his last head coaching gig, too. His frustration with being a head coach in understandable, especially when you factor in how he was let go from the Bucks head coaching job after one year.