The wide-ranging coaching search continues for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As the number of teams left in the playoffs decreases, more interview options become available to the Cavaliers. With the Houston Rockets eliminating the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, the Cavs were able to reach out to assistant coach Alex Jensen.
According to Joe Vardon and Tony Jones of The Athletic, the interview will take place next week:
The Cavaliers sought and were granted permission to interview Utah assistant Alex Jensen for their head coaching vacancy, sources told @Tjonesonthenba and I. The interview is expected to take place next week.
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) April 25, 2019
On the surface, Jensen makes a lot of sense for the Cavs given the direction they appear to be heading in. The Jazz don’t really compartmentalize coaching roles into offensive and defensive coordinators like other teams. But Jensen has still played a big role in the success of the Jazz and has been praised for his player development work, specifically with Rudy Gobert.
Jensen also has a connection to the Cavs, as he was the head coach of the Canton Charge — the Cavs’ G-League affiliate — from 2011-2013. In 2013, he was named the D-League coach of the year and was subsequently hired by the Jazz as an assistant.
With the Cavs not playing in a “glamor market”, developing the existing talent that they have has to be the priority. Either to build up the core, or to help make their existing assets more attractive when hunting big names on the trade market. Jensen’s ability to connect with players and assist in their growth makes him a very interesting candidate.