Following the firing of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff the Cleveland Cavaliers have been linked to several names to replace him for this upcoming season. Now, Cleveland has received permission to interview Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori. Nori coached from the sidelines this postseason after T-Wolves head coach Chris Finch suffered a knee injury in April. He is one of the most highly touted coaching candidates this offseason.
Micah Nori To Be Interviewed For Cavs Opening
Nori, an Ohio Native, has been an assistant in Minnesota since 2021. He is now the latest name in the Cavs’ current coaching search. Nori just may be the hottest name on the market following his run with the Timberwolves this season, whereas the ‘stand-in’ head coach, his team reached the Western Conference Finals.
During his time in Minnesota thus far the Timberwolves have recorded a 144-112 record, reaching the playoffs every year. Since 2021 as well, the Timberwolves ranked in the top ten in defensive rating twice, while maintaining a positive net rating every year. Under coach Bickerstaff, the Cavs were always a sound defensive team but offensive struggles were the reason for his departure, particularly in the playoffs.
Among the names on the Cavs’ radar, Nori is one of the more experienced of the bunch. Beginning his coaching career in 2009 with the Toronto Raptors. He has coached for the Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons before landing his latest job in Minnesota. Despite his experience, Nori has never been a head coach in his 15-year NBA coaching career.
His Fit In Cleveland
Coming from Minnesota, joining the Cavs makes a lot of sense for Nori. Not only would he become a head coach for the first time in his career but the construction of both rosters are pretty similar. The T-Wolves run a backcourt primarily of Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards, Conley is the pass-first, floor general while Edwards is the aggressive scorer.
The Darius Garland–Donovan Mitchell, backcourt is a very similar tandem that Nori would be comfortable working with. As well, Minnesota thrived with their ‘3&D’ wings Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaden McDaniels. The Cavs utilize similar players like Max Strus and Isaac Okoro in those same roles. Finally, the two-big front court of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert is very reminiscent of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Similar to the Towns, Mobley is the more two-way skilled player however he offers significantly more defensively and less offensively than Towns. While Allen and Gobert are both elite defensive anchors.
Will Nori Be The Man?
It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite in the Cavs coaching search. Golden State Warriors assistant, Kenny Atkinson and New Orleans Pelicans man James Borrego are thought to be favorites as of now but the news of Nori certainly throws a cog in that idea.
Nori would certainly keep Cleveland as a top-tier defense in the NBA. He will be tasked with re-energizing the Cavs offense. If he can get the best out of the Cavs ‘big four’ he could help turn this team into a juggernaut out east.
