CLEVELAND, Ohio — Amid growing speculation about Kenny Atkinson’s job security following the Cavs’ disappointing start, cleveland.com beat reporter Chris Fedor dropped a bombshell on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast that should quell the rumor mill — at least for now.
“Look, I talked to multiple sources over the last 24 hours that say any conversation about the future of Kenny Atkinson or him being on the hot seat or him coaching for his job or however you want to phrase it is categorically false, that it is just not true,” Fedor revealed.
The definitive statement comes after the Wine and Gold Talk podcast previously reported that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was “unhappy” about the team’s performance, which naturally fueled speculation about potential changes.
Columnist Jimmy Watkins acknowledged the validity of those questions, saying, “I just want to point out it was bad enough to ask those questions about Kenny Atkinson, right? I’m not trying to linger on that stuff, but that’s how bad it was.”
The Cavaliers’ recent performances against Charlotte and New Orleans — scoring 141 points against the Pelicans with nine players reaching double figures — have showcased what the team can look like when firing on all cylinders.
According to Fedor, these glimpses reinforce the organization’s belief that internal solutions remain viable.
“They believe that their issues are fixable, that their issues are correctable, and that they don’t have to go the drastic route,” Fedor explained. “Changing the coach is a drastic move. Changing the roster is a drastic move, and they want to exhaust all of their internal options before they have to go that direction.”
The most significant factor in the team’s patience? Injuries and lineup instability.
The Cavaliers have used nearly 20 different starting lineups already this season, with key players cycling in and out of availability. Darius Garland, Max Strus, and Evan Mobley have all missed substantial time, while Sam Merrill — whose return has coincided with the team’s offensive resurgence — represents exactly the kind of internal solution the front office has been banking on.
“You get one guy back in Sam Merrill, and look at the impact that that can have,” Fedor said. “Look how Kenny looks as a head coach when it comes to the lineups, the rotations. Look at the balance that they all of a sudden have starters and bench with one move.”
The organization’s perspective doesn’t erase the team’s inconsistent play, but it does suggest a longer runway for Atkinson and the current roster construction. For a team with championship aspirations, maintaining stability through early turbulence represents a calculated approach.
As the podcast discussion emphasized, sustained winning would quickly shift the narrative. “To change all the conversation about, oh, my goodness, is Kenny Atkinson on the hot seat? Does Kenny Atkinson have to coach for his job in the second half of the season? Like those things, they all die down when you start stacking wins,” Fedor explained.
The Cavs face a critical stretch with upcoming games against the New York Knicks on Christmas Day, followed by matchups with Houston and San Antonio — games that will test whether their recent success represents genuine improvement or merely a temporary reprieve.
While the organization maintains confidence in Atkinson and the team’s direction, the Wine and Gold Talk podcast made clear that patience isn’t unlimited.
Here’s the podcast for this week: