According to several reports that were released earlier this afternoon, the Cleveland Cavaliers have hired Andrae Patterson to a front office position.
Patterson, 41, previously served as a personnel/player programs coordinator for the Utah Jazz. Now, under newly-appointed general manager Koby Altman, he’ll serve as director of basketball administration.
Via Joe Vardon of cleveland.com:
“Patterson will work in a number of areas for the Cavs, from various player development programs to scouting both in the U.S. and overseas.”
In the days after the conclusion of the 2016-17 NBA season, the Cavs lost several members of their front office staff, including former general manager David Griffin, Trent Redden (Griffin’s assistant), and Anthony Leotti, who was the team’s salary cap expert.
Adding Patterson, a former second-round pick in the 1998 NBA Draft (Minnesota Timberwolves) who played his collegiate ball with the Indiana Hoosiers, is one of Altman’s first major hires as the Cavs’ GM. The move, just two weeks before the start of the regular season, should help in filling some of the void that was left when Griffin decided to part ways with the team.