The price of success: How the Cavs' winning ways are spawning the Kenny Atkinson coaching tree

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers learned an interesting lesson this offseason: when you win 64 games and claim the Eastern Conference's top seed, everyone wants a piece of what you've built.

The departure of four assistant coaches from Kenny Atkinson's staff isn't just a minor staffing issue -- it's the inevitable tax paid by successful organizations.

As Chris Fedor explained on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast, "This is what happens when you're the number one offense in the NBA. Smart organizations want a piece of that somehow, some way, whether it's players, whether it's head coaches, whether it's assistant coaches, whether it's player development coaches."

The exodus began with Jordan Ott accepting the head coaching position with the Phoenix Suns.

Far from going alone, Ott has already taken DeMarre Carroll with him to Phoenix, continuing a relationship that spans multiple NBA stops including Atlanta, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles before their time in Cleveland.

These departures aren't just about coaches seeking promotions -- they represent the birth of something larger.

"The Kenny Atkinson coaching tree, it continues to grow across the NBA," Fedor noted. "And whether it's this off season or next off season, the more success the Cavs are going to have, the more people are going to pluck fruit from that tree."

The relationship web extends even further, with Johnnie Bryant potentially in the mix for the New York Knicks job.

What makes these departures particularly significant is the specialized roles these coaches played. Bryan Tibaldi has left for Providence College's men's basketball program. Chris Darnell, who worked closely with two-way players like Craig Porter Jr. and Jaylon Tyson, has also departed for Sacramento. Both played crucial roles in player development for key contributors like Sam Merrill and Dean Wade.

Most significantly, Ott's departure creates a gaping hole in the development plan for Evan Mobley. Ott's impact was so substantial that the Suns specifically mentioned it in their hiring announcement.

"Phoenix brought it up as part of the reason why they hired him," Fedor said. "One of the things that they pointed out is his work specifically with Evan Mobley that that raised his profile and rightfully so."

The Cavs now face a critical decision: bring in external replacements or promote from within.

According to Fedor, "As of the other day, the sense that I got, feedback that I was getting from people that I trust is that the Cavs were looking at elevating from within, promoting from within."

This "next man up" philosophy aligns with the organization's culture, but replacing specialized talents who had established relationships with key players presents a unique challenge.

Each coach brought distinct perspectives and strengths that contributed to Cleveland's remarkable season.

For the Cavaliers, the challenge now becomes maintaining their competitive edge while their coaching innovations spread throughout the league. It's the paradox of success in professional sports -- the better you perform, the more likely your methods and personnel will be replicated elsewhere.

As Atkinson's coaching tree continues to branch out, the ultimate test will be whether the Cavaliers can sustain their elite performance while simultaneously developing the next generation of coaching talent.

After all, in the NBA, imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but it's also the surest sign you're doing something right.

Here's the podcast for this week: