Tuesday, the team wrapped up a two-day interview with Lakers assistant Brian Shaw. By all accounts it was a positive series of meetings.
UPDATED: 9:39 p.m.
View full sizeLakers assistant coach Brian Shaw, right, interviewed with Cavaliers executives on Monday and Tuesday but talks ended without Shaw being offered a contract, sources said.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nothing about this off-season has been ordinary for the Cavaliers. So why should their coaching search go smoothly?
Tuesday, the team wrapped up a two-day interview with Lakers assistant Brian Shaw. By all accounts it was a positive series of meetings. There were even signs that Shaw was in line to be the team's choice, especially with an unofficial deadline of Thursday to have a coach in place for the start of free agency.
But by the afternoon, Shaw was headed out of town and team sources said that he had not been offered the job and were firm that no contract talks had taken place. That isn't unusual in the NBA, offers don't always directly follow an interview -- especially for a candidate like Shaw who has never been a head coach before.
However, there's a twist. On Tuesday morning, Shaw's agent, Jerome Stanley, told the Los Angeles Times that Shaw was close to accepting the job. Yahoo Sports then reported that Shaw was making calls to attempt to line up new hires for a coaching staff. But the day ended with signals that no offers were on the table.
General Manager Chris Grant and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, however, have said that they have a process in place that they want to complete before hiring a coach. It appears that process still has some more steps.
However, there is a good chance Shaw could get the official offer with the way things are headed.
The terms "offering" a job and contract "talks" are gray areas in the NBA. Technically, sources say, the Cavs never formally offered Tom Izzo the coaching position, even though he turned it down.
Nevertheless, it appears that Shaw is the front-runner, ahead of previous favorite Byron Scott. After having an in-person interview 10 days ago and then more talks over the weekend, Scott has had reduced communication with the Cavs, said agent Brian McInerney, who also wished Shaw luck on joining the NBA head coaching ranks.
While Scott gave an interview to Yahoo on Monday saying he was willing to accept the Cavs job with or without a commitment from LeBron James, it now appears Scott is ready to move on. Both men would potentially be candidates for the Lakers head coaching job if Phil Jackson decides to retire, a decision he's currently pondering at his off-season Montana home.
Whether or not Jackson's situation plays into Scott stepping back or Shaw leaving without an offer or a contract is unclear. Jackson said he hoped to have an answer on his future by the end of the week.
Shaw has impressed the Cavs with his focus on defense from his Lakers days, plus his knowledge of how the triangle offense would work with James. He also impressed with his confidence in dealing with players, partially because of his 14-year history as a player and a champion in the league.
Shaw's drawback is that he's never been a head coach at any level.
The experience factor hasn't been a big deal in the past. Gilbert hired Mike Brown without head coaching experience and Izzo had never coached in the NBA. But it is believed the team was hopeful it could hire a coach with some head-coaching experience, which is one reason Scott, who has nine full seasons as a head coach with the Nets and Hornets, was high on the list.