Mike Brown was fired for a second time as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday afternoon. Now the team will look for a third head coach in as many years, and will do so under the watchful eye of new general manager David Griffin. Griffin worked for the Phoenix Suns for 17 years, including the last year as the team’s senior vice president of basketball operating. He worked with both Mike D’Antoni and Vinny Del Negro during his times with the Suns, leading to speculation by ESPN NBA insider Marc Stein both could be among the candidates for the Cavs’ head coaching gig.
Cavs just announced the dismissal of coach Mike Brown as they name David Griffin their full-time GM — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 12, 2014
Question sure to be asked: How much consideration will Mike D’Antoni/Vinny Del Negro get in Cleveland after working w/David Griffin in PHX — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 12, 2014
D’Antoni recently resigned from the Los Angeles Lakers after the team refused to pick up his option for the 2015-16 season. D’Antoni enjoyed the bulk of his success in the NBA while at the helm of the Suns with Griffin upstairs. The last we saw of Del Negro, he was manning the sidelines for the Los Angeles Clippers. A year after leading the team to its best season in franchise history in 2011, the Clippers opted not to renew Del Negro’s contract. Another name to keep an eye on is Alvin Gentry.
And Clippers assistant coach Alvin Gentry, for that matter, is a very natural target for new GM David Griffin after their PHX stint together — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 12, 2014
Gentry was considered strongly for Memphis job that went to Dave Joerger and is likely to get another HC shot after his Phoenix success — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 12, 2014
Gentry took over for D’Antoni in Phoenix after he left to take over the New York Knicks. Gentry’s Suns missed the playoffs in each of his first two seasons before mutually parting ways with the team midway through the 2012-13 season. Since then, Gentry has been the associate head coach with the Clippers, the lead assistant under head coach Doc Rivers.
