Kenny Atkinson has a heartfelt message for a WNBA assistant

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson he has no grudges against his assistant Alex Sarama, who is officially going to the WNBA as head coach of the Portland Fire. In fact, he congratulated and shared an official timeline for Sarama, who will still be part of the Cavs this year.

“That’s a little bit of the price of success,” Atkinson said after Friday’s practice. “People are going to be looking to sign people from your staff, and for Alex it’s a great opportunity. He’s going to stay with us for a season. It’s not like he’s leaving tomorrow, so that was the deal with that. But we’re going to miss him. He’s added a lot to the group. Again, I think we’ve come to that deal where we agreed and everything we wanted to prepare…

“I think he’s helped us all get better. He’s somebody who challenges traditional thinking. He’s implemented a science based on teaching. So I think he’s educated the players, educated the coaching staff and he’s just done a great job and he’ll continue to this year. And then it’s going to be really great to watch him spread his wings.”

Sarama jumping to the WNBA is another example of Cleveland’s staff removal.

Chief Assistant Coach Jordan Ott left to become the coach of the Phoenix Suns this summer, alongside DeMarre Carroll. The Sacramento Kings hired former assistant DJ Hamm and former Cleveland Charge head coach Chris Darnell. Even lead video assistant Brian Tibaldi changed direction and chose to take a job at Providence College in a similar role.

“I think when you’re an assistant, your goal is always to be a head coach, right, wherever that is,” Atkinson continued. “And this is a global game that’s expanding; life just isn’t the NBA. There’s a lot of opportunity. I think we’re going to see this going forward, right? It’s going to be a real competition for NBA coaching talent. We’re seeing coaches go to college. We lost one this year; one of our main video guys got a great opportunity to be in the Big East, I’m going to stay No. 1. here?’ So this is just some new reality.

“But we have to have — and I think we do have — a succession plan, right? So you say, well, who’s going to do what? We’ve got a lot of young coaching talent in our building, so we’ll be able to move forward, and we’ve already promoted a bunch of people into new roles and we’ll continue to do that.”

Admittedly, Atkinson never considered the possibility of having his own coaching tree like his legendary colleagues in the sport. He told his players it was about choosing the right people and organization.

“When that happens, it’s usually a team effort,” Atkinson said. “But on the other hand, yes, you’re proud when people on your staff get promotions and have the opportunity to advance in their careers. Now I’m very competitive, so I’d like to keep them all. I’m going to go the other way. I wonder, how could you get out of this situation? We have such a great (environment), so you play like that.”

“That’s your first emotion. Then you’re like, wait a minute. This is a free world. We need to celebrate people getting promotions and advancing in their careers.”