Cavs finalize five-year contract with Atkinson

Contract details for Atkinson have emerged.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are signing Kenny Atkinson to a five-year deal according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The news about Atkinson taking the head coaching vacancy came out on Monday. Now we know how long he’s contracted to be on Cleveland’s sideline.

Wojnarowski reported that Atkinson was “in the building” when Cleveland selected Jaylon Tyson in the first round on Wednesday evening.

Atkinson, 56, spent the last three seasons being an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors. He spent four seasons as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, leading them to a 118-190 record as he shepherded them through a rebuilding phase.

Atkinson will be tasked with elevating a group that ended the season as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference two seasons in a row, specifically, on the offensive end. He will also be asked to help Evan Mobley reach the next level in his NBA development.

This is a critical offseason for Koby Altman and the front office. Finding a successor to J.B. Bickerstaff was the first order of business in a summer that will be defined by whether or not Donovan Mitchell provides a long-term commitment.