In a move to bolster head coach Kenny Atkinson’s coaching staff, the Cleveland Cavaliers have made some significant additions. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers have brought on board two assistant coaches who have previous ties to Atkinson and the Los Angeles Lakers – Jordan Ott and DeMarre Carroll.
Jordan Ott, a seasoned NBA assistant coach, has been in the league since 2015 when he started with the Atlanta Hawks. After just a year there, Ott was lured by Atkinson to join him as an assistant in Brooklyn. Their partnership flourished as Ott spent six years with the Nets, even after Atkinson’s departure during the 2020-21 season. Following his stint in Brooklyn, Ott joined Darvin Ham’s coaching staff with the Lakers, where he served as a top assistant for the past two seasons until Ham’s dismissal this offseason. Ott’s coaching career began as a video coordinator with the Michigan State Spartans before he was hired for the same role by the Hawks in 2013.
Ott’s success as a coach is evident in his track record. He has guided teams to the playoffs in six out of nine seasons as an assistant, including a postseason appearance with Atkinson in Brooklyn. The reunion of Ott and Atkinson in Cleveland marks a continuation of their successful partnership that spanned four years with the Nets.
On the other hand, DeMarre Carroll, a former NBA veteran with 11 years of experience and eight different teams under his belt, has also joined the Cavaliers as an assistant coach. This marks Carroll’s third coaching job in the NBA, having previously worked with Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee before teaming up with Ott in LA on Ham’s staff. Carroll had his best season under Budenholzer in Atlanta, making his addition to the Cavaliers’ coaching staff a significant one.
The addition of Ott and Carroll to Atkinson’s staff signifies a strategic move by the Cavaliers to enhance the team’s coaching prowess and bring in experienced individuals who have a proven track record of success in the league. With a solid coaching foundation in place, the Cavaliers are poised to make a strong push in the upcoming season under Atkinson’s leadership.
