The basketball gods might've just handed Milwaukee the second chance they desperately need but don't deserve. If the whispers are true, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson could suddenly become available, and the Bucks need to move heaven and earth to make this happen.
This, after NBA insider Marc Stein dropped a bomb on The Stein Line (subscription required), reporting that pressure is mounting on Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson despite their strong start. Coaching circles are buzzing about his job security, which means opportunity is knocking for teams smart enough to answer.
Milwaukee should be sprinting to throw Kenny Atkinson an offer
To recall, Atkinson was reportedly considered for the Bucks head coaching position both before and after Adrian Griffin. However, they passed on him twice. That decision has been an unmitigated disaster, and now the universe is offering a chance to correct it.
As it currently stands, the Bucks are sitting at 11th in the Eastern Conference with an 11-17 record while Giannis Antetokounmpo trade chatter reaches deafening levels. Even with the talent and cohesion on the roster, the Bucks sit at 22nd in both offensive and defensive rating and 21st in net rating. Put simply, the on-court product is flat out bad.
On the other hand, Atkinson, in his first season, steered the Cavs to a league-leading 64 wins along with the top seed in the East, for which he earned NBA Coach of the Year honors thanks to a faster pace, expanded roles for players like Evan Mobley, and a renewed offensive spark all around. The contrast in coaching proficiency could not be any more glaring.
This is only to say that the time to fire Rivers is now. Any more waiting may see this situation become completely unsalvageable. It's the only move left for them to make without ruining their entire future. Milwaukee can't trade for impact players without gutting the roster. They can't make everyone healthy. The one variable they can actually control is who's drawing up plays and managing rotations.
Given his recent success in Cleveland (even despite the rumors surrounding his tenure now), Atkinson represents everything Rivers isn't: modern offensive schemes, defensive innovation, player development focus, and the humility to adjust when things aren't working. He took Brooklyn's young core and turned them into playoff contenders.
The Bucks explored Atkinson originally because he understood the basketball side of the decision. Some wanted Rivers because of his name and championship pedigree. Now they need to admit they were catastrophically wrong and empower the general manager to fix the mistake before Giannis forces his way out.
The window to salvage this season is closing rapidly. Every game Rivers coaches is another loss they can't afford, another day closer to Giannis demanding a trade. Atkinson becoming available is the kind of fortunate timing that rarely happens in professional sports.
This is the move that could save the franchise. Any other roster tweaks, trade deadline acquisitions, or motivational speeches would just be band-aid solutions. The coach is the problem, and suddenly the solution might become available.
Milwaukee can't waste this opportunity. They screwed up once by forcing Rivers on everyone. They need to swallow their pride, admit the mistake, and fix it before there's nothing left to salvage.
The universe is offering a do-over. The obvious answer is taking it.