CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The expected news came down Thursday, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Larry Drew agreeing to mutually part ways.

Drew and general manager Koby Altman had a productive, healthy conversation in which Altman thanked Drew for getting the Cavaliers through a bumpy first season in the post-LeBron James era.

Drew understood Cleveland’s stance and will keep his options open. For the Cavs, this means conducting an extensive search. They will take their time. For the first summer since 2014, when James joined in free agency, the Cavaliers’ season isn’t extending into June, and the front office intends to capitalize on those extra months. Altman will hold a press conference Friday, wrapping up the 2018-19 campaign. Then he will start compiling a list of prospective candidates and make some calls.

Chairman Dan Gilbert and Altman will lead this search, with the duo seeking a candidate who possesses the many traits that have been most meaningful in past years. The Cavs will focus on fit, repeatedly mentioning that as the driving force behind a coaching change from David Blatt to Tyronn Lue and then again from Lue to Drew.

Anyone that Cleveland considers will be tasked with growing this young nucleus and getting a rebuilding team out of the rubble. Player development will be at the forefront. It will be about the long-term health of the organization.

When that search happens, when the Cavs start looking deep into the pool of candidates, they will break their choices into three categories: retreads, first-timers and college coaches.

Here is a look at potential coaching candidates who make the most sense for Cleveland:

(This post, originally written in February, has been updated to reflect the news of Drew’s departure)

Retreads

Monty Williams is highly regarded around the NBA, but his interest in returning to a head coaching role has yet to be determined. Getty Images

Monty Williams, Philadelphia 76ers

Is Williams ready to become a full-time head coach once again?

He stepped away briefly following the tragic death of his wife, Ingrid, in February 2016. Then after spending two years in San Antonio’s front office, Williams returned to the sidelines at the start of the season, becoming one of Brett Brown’s assistants in Philadelphia.

During his five years in New Orleans, Williams compiled a record of 173-221, leading the Pelicans to the playoffs twice. A coach for Team USA, Williams has navigated rebuilds before -- when New Orleans traded away Chris Paul, finished with one of the worst records and then started over with Anthony Davis.

Jason Kidd is going to be a head coach again in the NBA, but would the rebuilding Cavaliers really be a contender to land him?Getty Images

Jason Kidd

There have been rumblings this season that Kidd could be the Lakers’ future bench boss -- if the team moves on from Luke Walton.

The Cavs’ situation may not be worth it. There are other more appealing suitors that could pop up, perhaps ones that will even give him the kind of power guys with his resume usually get. Kidd has finished with a winning record in three of his five seasons, making one playoff appearance with Brooklyn and two in Milwaukee.

Who better to help mentor young Sexton than one of the greatest points guards ever?

First-time coaches

Given their own needs and seeing some recent success from other rebuilding franchises, the Cavs will most likely go in this direction.

Atlanta seems to have found its franchise leader for the new era, hiring Lloyd Pierce, a guy on the coaching radar for years. He is the kind of leader who can grow with the team’s young nucleus. James Borrego worked his way up and ultimately landed with the Charlotte Hornets. While the Nets’ Kenny Atkinson was a bit older and more seasoned, based on a few years overseas following a well-traveled playing career, his work in player development has a few NBA teams, including the Cavs, wondering if there’s another out there.

Jordi Fernandez, Denver Nuggets

Fernandez seems to check a lot of boxes. He’s 36, able to relate with the numerous youngsters on the roster. Player development will be key and Fernandez spent four years on the Cavaliers staff in that capacity before becoming an assistant in the G League.

Fernandez was named an assistant coach for the Canton Charge in 2013-14. He held that title for just one season and then got promoted to head coach. His work in Canton earned him an assistant gig with the Denver Nuggets and gives him an edge on a few of the other first-time candidates who have never run a professional team.

Yes, the G League is a different level of competition. It’s not nearly the grind of the NBA. But Fernandez has experience managing personalities, implementing and teaching a system, interacting with NBA management daily and handling the day-to-day responsibilities that fall on head coaches, ones that assistants don’t experience.

A top assistant with the Utah Jazz, Alex Jensen (right, with Jazz center Rudy Gobert) has ties to the Cavaliers from his year as the head coach of the G League's Canton Charge.Getty Images

Alex Jensen, Utah Jazz

Like Fernandez, Jensen, 42, has head coaching experience from his time in the G League. The first leader of the Charge, Jensen was named Coach of the Year in 2013, before earning an assistant’s job with the Utah Jazz.

When lead assistant coach Igor Kokoskov left Utah for a head coaching job with the Phoenix Suns, Jensen took over as lead assistant. The next step for him is obvious. It might take place somewhere in 2019.

Adrian Griffin, Toronto Raptors

Interviewed by Cleveland during its 2014 search, the Cavs couldn’t quite figure out if Griffin was truly ready for the lead role. At that time, he was working alongside Tom Thibodeau, an omnipresent coach and dominant personality. Since leaving Thibodeau’s side, Griffin, 44, has been able to grow, having gained experience as an assistant in Orlando, Oklahoma City, Toronto and Team USA.

Jimmy Butler has talked about Griffin’s role in his rise to stardom. That fits the team’s desire to find someone known for player development. Griffin also comes from some winning programs, where he has seen what it takes to create that kind of culture. That will also be appealing to the Cavs.

Bret Brielmaier, Brooklyn Nets

Young and energetic, the 31-year-old Brielmaier began his career as a player development assistant in San Antonio before becoming the team’s video coordinator.

After four years with the Spurs, Brielmaier joined the Cavs as an assistant. He held that title for three seasons, earned an opportunity to coach the Summer League team in 2015, built a handful of relationships and still has connections to the team’s deep thinkers. Brooklyn hired him in 2016 to work alongside Atkinson.

Given that he’s only spent a few seasons on the front seat of the bench, it’s fair to wonder if it’s too early for this leap.

There's no questioning Chris Jent's ties to the Buckeye State, and he's had some interim head coaching experience in the NBA.Getty Images

Chris Jent, Atlanta Hawks

The 49-year-old Hawks assistant has made his mark as a great shooting coach who has been instrumental in player development. LeBron James is one example, as Jent was his personal shooting coach with the Cavs from 2006-11.

He also has an understanding of the game from a few levels, holding various titles while coaching in the NBA, college and G League. Jent was in the running for the Ohio State gig following Thad Matta’s departure. Chris Holtmann was hired instead.

Jamahl Mosley was an assistant for four years with the Cavaliers, focusing on player development. That responsibility will be key for the Cavs' head coach in 2019-20.Getty Images

Jamahl Mosley, Dallas Mavericks

Mosley is in his fifth season with the Mavericks, joining the franchise after four seasons in Cleveland. Those ties aside, Mosley, 40, got his start working in player development and advanced scouting. While with the Nuggets early in his career, the team became one of the best in the Western Conference. Mosley has also been part of Gregg Popovich’s staff with Team USA.

Nate Tibbetts, Portland Trail Blazers

Another coach who has spent time with the Cavaliers and earned valuable experience as a G League head coach, Tibbetts has been one of Terry Stotts’ understudies for the last half-decade. After 17 years paying his dues, the 41-year-old Tibbetts was considered one of the top candidates for the Hawks job before Pierce was chosen. Tibbetts has played a pivotal role in Portland’s offense, which is ranked top 10 in efficiency.

Stephen Silas is the son of Paul Silas, the first pro coach that LeBron James knew as he entered the NBA in 2003. Stephen Silas has been a finalist for other NBA head coaching vacancies.Getty Images

Stephen Silas, Dallas Mavericks

Silas, 46, is in his first season with the Mavericks following nine years in Charlotte. The son of former Cavs coach Paul Silas, Stephen was the runner-up to Mike D’Antoni in Houston back in 2016.

During Silas’ time in Cleveland from 2003-05, he was responsible for individual skill work, player development, game preparation, pre-game walkthroughs as well as the management and development of the technology and NBA scouting systems for the coaching staff.

An NBA lifer, Silas also gained head coaching experience in late 2017 when he filled in for Charlotte’s Steve Clifford during the month-plus when Clifford became ill.

Johnnie Bryant, Utah Jazz

The Cavs have immense respect for the Jazz -- how they conduct business, how they have drafted and developed over the years. How Quin Snyder finds a way to get the most out of his players and stay competitive in the rugged Western Conference.

Well, Bryant has been part of that. He has built a strong reputation on the player development side, privately working with Damian Lillard and becoming instrumental in the growth of Paul Millsap, Gordon Hayward and Donovan Mitchell. In 2017, Bryant served as one of the coaches during the Basketball Without Borders camp, where Altman was also a participant.

It’s not just his player development background that makes him attractive, either. Bryant has been learning the tactical aspects of the game from Snyder. That’s allowed his coaching profile to grow quickly.

Darvin Ham, Milwaukee Bucks

The former NBA player has head coaching experience, spending one season in that role with the G League’s New Mexico Thunderbirds before they were purchased by the Cavs and moved to Canton. In his first NBA coaching gig, Ham worked with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard in a player development role.

Known as a hard worker and having spent the majority of his coaching career in a winning environment, Ham, 45, is likely to generate interest in the coming seasons, if it doesn’t happen this summer.

David Vanterpool

Altman has a healthy amount of respect for the Blazers, who have risen to the Western Conference’s third spot. When Portland was in town, Altman and Vanterpool had a lengthy, friendly courtside chat. These are typical before games, but the two seem to at least have a good business relationship.

A former NBA player, Vanterpool interviewed for the top job with Charlotte and Orlando last offseason before both went a different direction. He has been with the Blazers for seven years, working alongside Terry Stotts and helping turn the Lillard-CJ McCollum backcourt into one of the league’s best despite it being a bit undersized. That experience could help the Cavs, who may be staring at that kind of future with Collin Sexton already in place and Ja Morant a possibility in the draft. Vanterpool also has experience coaching in Europe and with the Canadian National Team.

College coaches

Which team isn’t looking for the next Brad Stevens or Billy Donovan? It hasn’t always gone well for coaches making the move from college to the pros, but the Cavs will consider all options. There will, no doubt, be speculation about Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. But it seems unlikely.

One, lots of time has passed since the Cavs contemplated that hire. Two, Izzo has earned the right to be picky. There’s very little that points to him wanting to leave Michigan State and he would likely only do it for the ideal situation. It’s hard to make a strong argument that rebuilding Cleveland would fit that description.

Jay Wright, Villanova

Wright is the most talked about name in the college ranks. He has more than 500 wins, five Big East regular season titles, two National Coach of the Year awards and a pair of national championships. His offense fits the modern era, hoisting 3-pointers at a rapid rate, and he’s shown the ability to adapt no matter the level of talent he recruits.

Tony Bennett, Virginia

Virginia isn’t flashy, but Bennett has lifted the program to the ranks of the elite in college hoops, capping an impressive run with a national title. A former NBA point guard, the words “smart” and “pragmatic” have been used most often to describe him. He has the kind of personality, basketball IQ and leadership to get through to NBA players just as he has done in college.

Other option: Bill Self