Cavs fire head coach J.B. Bickerstaff
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Adieu, J.B. Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have fired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Why it matters: His dismissal is the first domino to fall in what is expected to be a turbulent offseason, when retaining star guard Donovan Mitchell (or securing the maximum return in a trade) will be the front office's top priority.
What they're saying: "Over the past four years, [Bickerstaff] helped establish a culture that progressively drove players to become the best versions of themselves," Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in a statement.
- "Decisions like these are never easy, particularly when you look back at where this franchise rebuild started under his leadership."
Catch up quick: Bickerstaff found early success in Cleveland, vaulting a young team from 22 wins in the shortened 2020-21 season to 44 wins the following year.
Yes, but: Bickerstaff's decision-making and leadership were routinely questioned after the team acquired Mitchell in 2022 and ascended to the Eastern Conference's more competitive rungs.
- This year, he was rumored to be on the hot seat more often than not. Fans blamed the team's confounding mental errors and undisciplined defensive performances on the head coach.
- Near the end of the season, players were openly questioning his substitution patterns and offensive schemes.
By the numbers: Bickerstaff amassed a 170-159 (.517) record over five seasons — the fifth-most wins and the sixth-highest winning percentage among Cavs coaches all-time.
The latest: This season ended unceremoniously, as the injury-riddled Cavs fell to the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
What's next: The Athletic's Shams Charania reports that Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson and Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego are expected to be among the top candidates for the job.