Report: Cavs expected to interview Alex Jensen for head coaching job

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ list of potential candidates for their head coaching position keeps increasing, and it was reported that they were given permission to interview Utah Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen for the position.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are clearly going to leave no stone unturned when it comes to their head coaching vacancy. We’ve often touched on how it’s been reported that Cavs general manager Koby Altman likely has a long process ahead of him when it comes to replacing former head coach Larry Drew.

For now, as we’ve hit on, Cleveland has already interviewed Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Jamahl Mosley and Miami Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard, according to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.

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Along with that, it was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday that the Cavaliers received permission to interview Portland Trail Blazers assistant coaches David Vanterpool and Nate Tibbetts for the squad’s head coaching position.

It was also reported on Tuesday by the New York Times‘ Marc Stein that Cleveland has interest in former Memphis Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff for the same position.

Now, another name has been added to the list of candidates that have been or will be interviewed.

On Thursday, it was reported by The Athletic‘s Joe Vardon and Tony Jones that the Cleveland Cavaliers have received permission to interview Utah Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen for the team’s head coaching position, and that the interview “is expected to take place next week.”

A few weeks back, Fedor (also with 92.3 The Fan), in reference to forecasting a few favorites for Cleveland’s head coaching position, said he believes Jensen and Denver Nuggets assistant coach Jordi Fernandez are “going to be near the top of the Cavs’ list.”

Fedor has often highlighted how both Jensen and Fernandez have a strong background in player development, and he touched on how both can help build a winning culture in the coming years for Cleveland.

It appears that Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Larry Nance Jr., Kevin Love, maybe Ante Zizic and the team’s two draft picks this year could be the team’s core moving forward, and it would seem that a reportedly highly-respected assistant, such as Jensen, could be the guy to really get the Cavs on the right path.

He’s been with the Jazz since 2014 (per Basketball Reference) and has helped the team make the Western Conference Playoffs the last three years.

Jensen (just like Fernandez in 2014) was the Canton Charge’s (Cleveland G-League affiliate) head coach from 2011-13. Jensen was named the 2012-13 NBA (then-Developmental) League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year, which showcases his potential to turn Cleveland into a winner.

It appears that this sort of candidate, much like Fernandez, Vanterpool and Tibbetts, would be a smart hire by Altman and the Cleveland Cavaliers.