AP Source: Cavaliers, Blatt to meet Wednesday

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — David Blatt reached the coaching pinnacle in Europe. He hopes to make a similar climb in pro basketball’s top league.

Blatt, who resigned as coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv last week to pursue his dream of coaching in the NBA, will interview with the Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Blatt stepped away from his job with the European champions, saying he will accept an unspecified job in the NBA. The 55-year-old will meet with the Cavs about their vacancy, said the person who spoke Sunday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team is not discussing its plans.

Yahoo! first reported the timing of Blatt’s meeting.

Blatt also is believed to be contemplating a job as an assistant with Golden State under new coach Steve Kerr.

The Cavs are into the second month of a wide-ranging search to replace Mike Brown, who fired on May 12 following a 33-49 season. The club had second interviews with Los Angeles Clippers assistants Alvin Gentry and Tyronn Lue on Friday, meetings which included owner Dan Gilbert.

The Cavs have contacted more than one dozen coaches.

Blatt is regarded as one of the world’s foremost offensive minds. He guided Maccabi to a stunning upset of Real Madrid in this year’s European championship. Blatt has been on the radar of NBA teams for several years and he gained international respect by leading Russia to the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Blatt was born in the U.S., played at Princeton and went to Israel to play professionally before embarking on his coaching career.

The Cavs and Los Angeles Lakers are the only teams still looking for a coach. Cleveland wanted to have theirs in place before the June 26 draft, when the Cavs will have the top overall pick for the second year in a row.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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