If the Cavaliers hire a new coach before the start of free agency on July 1, it probably is not a good sign for the Knicks — it probably means LeBron James endorsed the pick and is staying put.
Sunday night’s firing of coach Mike Brown was the first step in what Cavaliers management hopes is the healing process that will ultimately lead to James’ return to Cleveland. Multiple league sources expect the team to wait until July to find out King James’ intentions before making a hire.
High-profile options such as Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, Kentucky’s John Calipari and Lakers coach Phil Jackson have surfaced as prospective candidates whom James might fancy. But there is a chance none of them will get the job — or an interview.
As with almost everything in the NBA these days, it all hinges on what James has in mind.
“They almost have to wait, simply because the candidates would be different depending on what LeBron does,” one league source said.
James’ publicist said the vacationing superstar would have no comment on Brown’s dismissal, which came 10 days after the Cavaliers’ stunning second-round playoff ouster to the Celtics that left James’ Cleveland future in serious doubt.
Following their elimination, James said he would evaluate “what went wrong” as he decides his next move. What went wrong could simply be getting beat by the champions if the Celtics continue their postseason rampage.
Krzyzewski, who already has rebuffed an overture from the Nets, would be a fascinating choice because he has a great relationship with James from their time with the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, an assistant to Coach K on that team, supposedly does, too.
Coach K once turned down the Lakers, but a whopping payday could finally pique his interest. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert would spare no expense if it means keeping James.
Meanwhile, Calipari, who is close friends with James confidant William Wesley, repeatedly has denied he is moving on from Kentucky after being rumored for the Bulls’ open coaching job in a package deal with James.
But, according to a source close to James, Wesley will switch his role on June 1 from ambigious player adviser connected to James’ agent Leon Rose to an official representative for coaches and general managers. Calipari will become Wesley’s first client.
Calipari always has yearned for a second NBA chance to erase his disastrous stint with the Nets. Calipari attended Game 5 of the Boston-Cleveland series, sitting next to Rose. He said he was there for a charitable cause. Yesterday, Calipari posted to his active Twitter account to lobby for Erin Andrews on “Dancing with the Stars,” not to refute rumors of him leaving Kentucky, as he did last week.
It is hard to imagine Jackson leaving Los Angeles and his girlfriend, Jeanie Buss, a top Lakers executive, for northeast Ohio. Jax once ripped sunny Sacramento’s lack of culture — he’d have a field day with Cleveland. A return to Chicago for the Zen Master is not as implausible.
One coach James probably should lobby for is Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, whose defense shut him down in the playoffs. The former Knicks assistant has interviewed with the Hornets and is reportedly the top candidate.
By firing Brown late Sunday night, the Cavaliers saved on half of Brown’s $4 million guarantee for next season. Brown had a .663 winning percentage in five seasons with the Cavaliers, but sources have maintained his offensive playbook grew stale and James was disappointed in Brown’s handling of Shaquille O’Neal and Antawn Jamison.
Cavaliers guard Mo Williams told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, “Do I think he deserved it? No. My question is: Who’s out there that’s better? He’s not a bad coach. To fire him, that’s making a big statement. After him, you have to get a Hall of Fame coach.”
In a statement, Gilbert said, “After a long and deep analysis of all of the factors that led to the disappointing early ends to our playoff runs over the past two seasons, we concluded that it was time for the Cavaliers to move in a different direction.
“The expectations of this organization are very high and, although change always carries an element of risk, there are times when that risk must be taken in an attempt to break through to new, higher levels of accomplishment. This is one of those times.”