Following the hiring of head coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cleveland Cavaliers have added two assistant coaches to his staff per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Jordan Ott and DeMarre Carroll have previous ties to Atkinson and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jordan Ott has agreed to join Kenny Atkinson’s new Cleveland Cavaliers staff as an assistant coach, sources tell ESPN. Ott spent the past two seasons on the Lakers’ staff and emerged as a finalist in the Charlotte Hornets’ head coaching process. pic.twitter.com/QpVQaKDRaF
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2024
DeMarre Carroll is joining Kenny Atkinson’s coaching staff with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN. Carroll — who played 11 NBA seasons — spent the past two years as a coach with the Lakers and Bucks. pic.twitter.com/czHeMKDYVf
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2024
Cavs Add Two Former Lakers Coaches to Atkinson’s Staff
About Ott
Jordan Ott has been an NBA assistant since 2015 with the Atlanta Hawks. He spent just a year there and was eventually recruited by Kenny Atkinson to be his assistant in Brooklyn. Ott spent six years with the Nets even after Atkinson was let go during the 2020-21 season. Following his departure from Brooklyn he joined Darvin Ham’s staff with the Lakers. He was a top assistant for LA over the past two seasons until Ham was fired this offseason. Ott began his career as a video coordinator with the Michigan State Spartans before the Atlanta Hawks hired him for the same role in 2013.
Ott has been successful as a coach too. He has made the playoffs six out of nine seasons as an assistant, including once with Atkinson in Brooklyn. The hiring reunites Ott and Atkinson who spent four years together with the Nets.
About Carroll
DeMarre Carroll is a former NBA veteran, he spent 11 years in the league with eight different teams. The addition of Carroll as a Cavs assistant coach, marks his third job in the NBA. He spent time with now Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee before joining Jordan Ott in LA on Darvin Ham’s staff. Carroll played for Budenholzer in Atlanta where he had his career best season.
As a player, Carroll was a stout defender during his time in the league, he will likely mentor a majority of the Cavs wing players to help with player development. Carroll averaged 8.9 points per game and was a centerpiece to the 2014-15 Hawks team that won 60 games. That same season Carroll received votes for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player. Carroll also spent time on Atkinson’s Nets teams during the latter stages of his career. He played from 2017-19 with the Brooklyn and has always had high praise for his former coach.
Carroll was with Atkinson in Brooklyn and Atlanta as a player, and saw some of his best years occur under Atkinson’s guidance.
Carroll voiced his support for Atkinson after he was fired in Brooklyn. https://t.co/XO4p2UCPOz pic.twitter.com/ai6FL5BZ2M
— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) July 5, 2024
Adding Carroll and Ott fills out two Cavs assistant coaches for Atkinson’s staff. Both coaches come from different backgrounds, a former player and a former college video coordinator will be able to bring different perspectives to this Cavs group. The two worked well together with the Lakers and the Cavaliers are hopeful for similar results in Cleveland. Regarding the rest of the staff, we can expect the rest of the Cavs coaching staff to be announced within the next month or so.
