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Ethan Sands: Kenny Atkinson said on the broadcast at Summer League that Jaylon Tyson is playing like he’s desperate for rotation minutes. With Isaac Okoro gone, the reigning Coach of the Year added that the #Cavs will need guys like Tyson — and they’ve loved his improved physicality and development this summer.
As cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter, Chris Fedor detailed on the podcast, this wasn’t simply a resume-based hire but one rooted in trusted relationships. “Mike Brown, I’m told, gave the highest glowing recommendation of Jawad Williams,” Fedor revealed. “When Mike Brown is going to go to bat for a guy like Jawad, Kenny’s going to listen.”
Danny Cunningham: The #Cavs have hired Jawad Williams as an assistant coach on Kenny Atkinson’s staff. Williams attended St. Edward’s high school and played for the Cavs from 2008-2011.
“I would prefer us wearing suits,” Atkinson said in October. “I think I’m in the minority. I just love (wearing suits). We’re a profession. I think it looks great. I think it looks great on TV. My daughter keeps saying, she says it at least once a week. She’s 14 years old and she says, ‘Dad, I miss the suits.’ I just think it gives a certain aesthetic. I enjoyed seeing what the other coaches wore. I don’t know if that’s old school. I don’t know, but I miss that. I wish we’d bring it back.”
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Sources tell cleveland.com that Atkinson has made the film room his second home in the aftermath of Cleveland’s latest postseason flameout. He has rewatched the series numerous times, trying to figure out what went wrong and coming up with internal solutions.
Koby Altman: We'd love to keep Ty Jerome
Michael Scotto: Cleveland Cavaliers President Koby Altman on free agent guard Ty Jerome: “Love to keep him. We’re hopeful.” “When guys find that confidence in (Kenny Atkinson’s) system, their value gets driven up. Same thing with Sam Merrill. You want to call these guys end of bench players before that became real rotational players and valuable within the ecosystem, not just us. The good news is those guys are going to do really well for themselves.”
With Darius Garland injured, Jerome scored 21 points on 20 shots in Game 1, then went 1-for-14 in Game 2 and was the defender who lost track of Tyrese Haliburton on the Pacers' game winner. Jerome got off to another slow start in Game 3, shooting 1-for-8, and at that point coach Kenny Atkinson had seen enough. Jerome played just 13 minutes, by far his lowest total of the postseason, as Sam Merrill passed him on the depth chart. By Game 5, Jerome couldn't get off the bench until the second half. Already facing financial pressures as a projected second apron team next season, the Cavaliers might now conclude that Jerome isn't worth retaining if he can't even stay on the floor in their most important games. And Jerome's struggles in the playoff pressure cooker might also scare off potential suitors who would otherwise be interested in seeing what he could do with more touches.
Atkinson acknowledged some positive strides from the team this season, but he still noted how the Cavs struggled to match the Pacers' physicality and intensity throughout the series. "I do feel like we got better," Atkinson said. "From the team aspect and then we had a lot of individuals make a step, so I just want to make that clear. But the truth of the matter is we didn't get to the level we wanted to get to. So, I'm not pleased with that. And we're not celebrating the season, if that all makes sense. But I do think we made strides. I think we took a jump. "Now we got to figure out this last piece, how to get over this hump. And I was quite honestly expecting more, especially coming off the [first-round] Miami series."
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Chris Fedor: #Cavs Kenny Atkinson: "We've got a lot of work to do"
Scott Agness: Kenny Atkinson: "Complete domination by them. That's the story — in every facet."
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