John Beilein will not be the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for much longer, and it sounds like the only question is whether he will leave the team immediately or at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.
Reports have indicated that Beilein is not expected to remain the head coach of the Cavs and could step down during the All-Star break. According to The Athletic, Beilein will meet with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on Monday to discuss his options, and the 67-year-old will either part ways with the team this week or after the season.
Cleveland is 14-40 and entered the All-Star break with the worst record in the Eastern Conference. This is Beilein’s first year as an NBA head coach after he had a successful stint at Michigan, and there’s a chance his parting of ways with the Cavs could truly be mutual.
There have been talks about issues with Beilein working as an NBA coach since December. A report at the time said players did not like the way Beilein was operating the team like a college program. There was another moment when Beilein received negative publicity in January when he inadvertently called his players “thugs” instead of “slugs.”
Given all that has transpired, it would not be a surprise if Beilein has quickly learned that coaching in the NBA is not for him. J.B. Bickerstaff, who is currently an assistant coach with the Cavs, has been mentioned as a possible replacement if and when Beilein steps away.
