J.B. Bickerstaff took over for John Beilein as Cavaliers coach after the All-Star break but he’s not a short-term replacement, he confirmed to Marc Spears of The Undefeated. Bickerstaff has received assurances from the front office he’ll receive a new contract.
“To my knowledge, at some point in time we will negotiate a long-term deal,” Bickerstaff said. “But this wasn’t an interim thing. This was a conversation that (Cavaliers GM) Koby (Altman) and I had. And he said, ‘You’re the head coach moving forward.’ So, the plan is I will be back next season with a long-term deal.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Second-year Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton admitted that Beilein’s departure served as a wakeup call for himself and his teammates, Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer relays. Sexton asked himself some hard questions after the team made another coaching change. “Was I as coachable as I could have been? Could I have been more coachable? Could I have received information and criticism better? Let me step back and survey,” Sexton said. “’Was I as good of a player to coach when he was here?’ Had to just look myself in the mirror and ask myself those things.”
- Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. is hopeful he can return to action as early as Saturday, according to Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. He hasn’t played since January 6 due to an ankle injury. “It’s going to be a little bit weak but continuing to play, continuing to put more stress on it is going to make it stronger,” said Carter, who will be on a minutes restriction when he returns.
- Pistons guard Bruce Brown has established himself as a defensive stopper and increased his rebounding totals since Andre Drummond was traded but there’s still one glaring area of improvement, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com notes. Brown is shooting 44.3% overall and 33.7% on 3-point tries, which is an upgrade from his rookie year but is still a work in progress. “Bruce has improved in a lot of areas,” coach Dwane Casey said. “Shooting has been the last one to come around and I do know that will come around.”
“It’s going to be a little bit weak but continuing to play, continuing to put more stress on it is going to make it stronger.”
I dunno, doesn’t usually work that way with something like an ankle injury.
But, but…that is what Boylen told him! Jeez, let’s force him out there too early and injure one of the few decent 2 way players on the team.
Cavs know their future lies with Garland Porter Jr and there too draft pick this year (hopefully Deni Avdija).
So for me they should look to trade Sexton while he still has a positive value. End of the day tho Sexton is still putting up good numbers 20/3/3 and shooting 46/37/85
Maybe the suns could be interested in a young score first back up for Rubio that could eventually take over. Making Bridges or Johnson available.
Maybe the Knicks see Sexton as a possible starting option and give up Kevin Knox.
Maybe the Lakers could see Sexton as a future starter and bench scorer and give up Kuzma.
For a Cavs team that needs to also improve its defence I’d say Bridges would be the best target.
Another idea for the coaching staff would be Jerry Stackhouse as Assistant. He coached a really good Toronto 905 team to a championship with FVV, Siakim, Poetl and Wright. That year he also won Gleague coach of the year. I believe he also coached Garland at Vanderbilt and so having that experience with him would be also a huge bonus.
If he is on the block, because he is shooting well the Sixers would have to be among the most interested. The Suns have Rubio for 2 more years. Would they be wise to swap Bridges? Probably, they just keep drafting or trading for wings.
Suns haven’t seen a wing they don’t like in the draft. They’ll take defensive guys like Bridges shooters like Johnson or athletic guys like Oubre.
Swapping Bridges or Sexton gives makes your backcourt more interesting and exciting and although it weakens the SF position you still have players you can play there.
Don’t even want to think about Sexton on the Sixers. As you probably know I’m a Philly fan and Simmons fan but for now I just want to see us play out this year and if we make the ECF I’m happy anything below that we need to make big changes still just unsure of which ones are the best way to move.
They will trade Sexton for another center
I like Mikal B or Cam J for Sexton as that would support picking any of the PGs available in the draft. Advija is best to fill a Cavs opening but I’m not sure he would rank so high in, say, a draft with Mikal or Cam! I read varying reports about whether Advija can be a half-court playmaker. Probably is but stakes are high. Doncic worked out!
Bickerstaff is good, good news that he stays.
I wouldn’t pick a PG again, you’ve already used 2 top 10 picks in back to back years on that position.
Give Garland a clear opportunity to be a PG, he’s had to share that position and t he ball with Sexton this year and has had 4 assists per game, I think next year given the opportunity to lead them he would put up about 7.5 assists per game.
Avdija I think is slightly underrated, I think he will be a good passer, good rebounder and will score occasionally of picks. Defensively I think he will match up well with most SF’s, outside the big 4 (Bron, Kawhi, Durant, PG). He isn’t long but he’s smart and has a good IQ and makes the right plays
Funy if the guards want to run the Beilein split-PG offense without Beilein.
But I think particularly Bridges would be a good addition. He can defend really well which is something the Cavs need. Offensively he only is taking 6 shots and gets 8 points, shooting 50/34/84. At the Cavs he would be given more opportunity to score and I could see him getting a handy 10/12 points and 4/5 rebounds
Maybe trade of Horford, Milton for Love, Sexton would work. Then a deal of Harris for Gordon. Moving Simmons to SF where he should be.
Just see Horford and Harris as big trade moves asap.