According to Bob Finnan of Ohio's Morning Journal, the Cleveland Cavaliers have narrowed their coaching search down to four candidates - Clippers Associate Head Coach Alvin Gentry, Clippers assistant Tyronne Lue, Hornets assistant Mark Price and European coaching legend David Blatt.
Gentry and Blatt are currently considered the front-runners, with Lue and Price hanging around as potential dark horses. Both Gentry and Blatt have extensive head coaching experience - Gentry has over nine season's worth, but has only made it past the first round of the playoffs once (with over 700 games under his belt, the two playoff appearances his teams have mustered aren't particularly impressive). Blatt, on the other hand, has coached his way to unprecedented success...but all of it came across the pond in the Euroleague, and there are still doubts as to whether his style will effectively translate to the NBA.
Lue has impressed a number of front offices, and has been tabbed as a coach on the rise. Still, his lack of head coaching experience is a major drawback, and hiring him would be seen as a major leap of faith, even for Cleveland.
Price, the sentimental favorite, played for the Cavs from 1986 to 1995. A four-time all-star during an impressive NBA career, his only head coaching experience came with the Australasian National Basketball League's South Dragons...and he lasted just five games.
Blatt is being pursued by the Golden State Warriors as a top assistant to Steve Kerr, but the other three don't have other offers on the table at the moment. Of the options remaining to Cleveland, Blatt looks like the best bet...but the Cavaliers will have to make sure he doesn't head for Golden State instead.
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