Report reveals Cavaliers’ stance on firing JB Bickerstaff
Dec 6, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J. B. Bickerstaff reacts in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday saw their season come to an end. Could a team overhaul be coming this offseason?
The Cavaliers were eliminated from the playoffs after a 113-98 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at TD Garden in Boston, Mass.
J.B. Bickerstaff has served as Cleveland’s head coach for the last five seasons. The 45-year-old’s chances of making it to a sixth season are “in serious jeopardy,” according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Charania reported that the Cavaliers are expected to take “multiple days” to make their formal decision on Bickerstaff’s future. Bickerstaff has reportedly “built equity” with the team’s front office throughout his five-year tenure.
During his Game 5 postgame press conference, Bickerstaff was asked about his job status with the team.
“No one has told me I’m not [the coach], so I’ll keep showing up until they tell me not to,” Bickerstaff responded.
Last season, Bickerstaff led the Cavaliers to their first playoff appearance since the departure of LeBron James in 2018. The team got even further this year, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals after a first-round exit in 2023.
With the Cavs’ season now over, Bickerstaff’s future isn’t even the team’s biggest question mark. There are reportedly several teams ready to make a trade offer for Donovan Mitchell if the All-Star forces his way out of Cleveland.
