It is not just the Los Angeles Lakers who are hunting for a new person to call the shots from the sidelines. Count the Cleveland Cavaliers among those searching for a head coach after they decided that it was time to part ways with JB Bickerstaff following the Cavs’ second-round exit in the 2024 NBA Playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics.
To that end, it seems that the Cavs are about to make some progress with a scheduled visit this Tuesday with New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach James Borrego. However, the 46-year-old Borrego, who’s part of San Antonio Spurs mentor Gregg Popovich’s coaching tree, is also reportedly part of the Lakers’ list of potential candidates as Darvin Ham’s successor in La La Land.
“James Borrego is scheduled to meet with the Cavaliers about their head coaching vacancy in Cleveland today, league sources say. Borrego is also back at the forefront of the Lakers’ search after Dan Hurley passed on L.A.’s offer to stay at UConn,” wrote NBA insider Marc Stein on X (the social media platform formerly called Twitter).
During Monday’s edition of Get Up on ESPN, Brian Windhorst said that the Cavs and Borrego are trending in the right direction.
“Other candidates that they’re interested in, are moving on elsewhere,” said Windhorst (h/t RealGM).
“So James Borrego, who they interviewed about 10 days ago, he’s getting momentum in Cleveland. He’s expected to interview there early this week as a potential leading candidate developing with the Cavs,” added Windhorst.
Meanwhile, during a Monday appearance on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said that Borrego is still a notable name in the Lakers’ continued hunt for a head coach amid Dan Hurley’s decision to stay in college with the UConn Huskies than accept a glitzy job in Tinseltown to coach the Los Angeles.
“I think James Borrego is still going to be a significant name in this search. He’s in Cleveland now. He’ll meet with the Cavaliers on Tuesday, all day long. He’s prominent in that search. They’ll have Kenny Atkinson in later in the week with the Cavs.
Borrego has been an assistant for the majority of his coaching career in the NBA, beginning with the Spurs. He had stints as well with the New Orleans Hornets and the Orlando Magic. Borrego also coached as an interim head coach for the Magic in 2015 before going back to the Spurs. He coached the Charlotte Hornets from 2018 to 2022 before going to the Pelicans in 2023 where he continues to practice his craft.
In 331 games as NBA head coach (interim included), Borrego has garnered a record of 143-183. His best single-season record as a head coach is 43-39 during his final season with the Hornets in the 2021-22 campaign.
Fans react to Stein’s latest James Borrego-Cavs update
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Stein’s word on the Cavs’ update on the Borrego front has fans making all sorts of reactions.
“He’s going to get a big contract if they’re both after him!”
“I believe Cavs will be aggressive and if he is there guy they will offer him the Job today!”
“I wondered on today’s Locked On Cavs if Hurley turning down the Lakers means the #Cavs need to move quicker with their search. Think this is a pretty good answer.”
“Hope Cavs get him🙏”
“If he is your guy, have to keep him in the building.”
“What a downgrade”