4:18pm: Bickerstaff’s new deal will run through the 2023/24 season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
3:01pm: After replacing John Beilein as the Cavaliers‘ head coach last month, J.B. Bickerstaff has received a longer-term commitment from the team, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the Cavs and Bickerstaff have reached an agreement on a multi-year contract.
The Cavaliers signed Beilein to a four-year contract with a fifth-year team option last spring, but the veteran college coach didn’t even make it through the first season of that deal. Beilein’s brief, challenging stint in Cleveland came to an end when he stepped down as the team’s head coach at the All-Star break in February, with Bickerstaff taking over the job.
Multiple reports have indicated that Bickerstaff was viewed as Beilein’s eventual successor when the Cavs hired him as their associate head coach in 2019. While the club didn’t expect the transition to happen so soon, today’s agreement – which comes on Bickerstaff’s 41st birthday – signals that Cleveland was serious about its new head coach not just being an interim replacement.
This is the third time that Bickerstaff has taken over for a head coach partway through a season. He went 37-34 with the Rockets in 2015/16 after stepping in for Kevin McHale, then had a 48-97 record with the Grizzlies across two seasons after he replaced David Fizdale in 2017.
So far in Cleveland, Bickerstaff has done an admirable job with one of the NBA’s worst teams, leading the Cavaliers to a 5-5 record since taking the reins from Beilein. The team has won games against Miami, Philadelphia, and Denver during that post-All-Star stretch.
While details of Bickerstaff’s new agreement haven’t yet been reported, it’s officially safe to say the Cavaliers won’t be one of the teams in the market for a new head coach this spring.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Collin Sexton is as good as gone this offseason. They’ve done a great job at showcasing him this year. Curious what it will take to get him. Terrible defender. But this would be my top target for the Sixers via trade if they can’t get Buddy Hield. You already know what he is (39% 3pt shooter atm) versus drafting a guy like Devin Vassell, Tyler/Shaddiq Bey, or Jahmi’us Ramsey who will ride the bench in Brett Brown’s system if he’s still the coach.
Cavs seem ready roll with Garland and Porter from all the drool Bickerstaff has for Porter.
I swear you comment that Sexton is gone on every Cavs post. I don’t see a connection here.
If anything, how he’s played lately has made him MORE of a fit for the team long-term. Ideally he’s still a sixth man in the future, but KPJ is best served as a 3 anyway.
I swear I’ve never seen you post ever on hoopsrumors.
Why would a rebuilding team ever trade away a lottery level talent? I mean, what would they trade him for? Picks that turn into less talented players?
Cleveland will work that kid until he’s an RFA, then low-ball him and see what kind of S&T is available. Unless he does something crazy and can’t stay, he’s going to be in Cleveland. And the only way out is to get better.
The amount of drool for Porter and Garland by their now extended HC tells me he is traded this offseason or at the deadline. What they get IDK, will it be the Sixers? No probably not, but I think he’s on the move to create more minutes for the aforementioned duo.
How important is a scorer & fine backup for a rebuilding team?– Why delay moving him? It all depends on what is offered.
You obviously don’t follow the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their PR people love to sell the sizzle, not the steak. Sexton is nothing but empty calories, but he’s not going anywhere.
Where’s Brett gonna be coaching next season?
Bretts dad was my coach in high school. I wasn’t a big fan of him either.
Bickerstaff might be the smartest man in the league. Always right behind a struggling head coach, ready to jump in and take over in a moments notice. Always gets the multi year extension. Man knows how to work the system lol
Exactly… there’s an art to that and, clearly, he’s mastered it lol. Making a career out of losing… but his direct deposit is undefeated!
He didn’t an extension with Houston. They let him go in 2016.
big fail here
GM Altman was also extended earlier to 2024.
Bickerstaff’s very different from Beilein. I like how he can work with people and is not so developmentally-oriented. Presumably he’s not trying to press people into a role he wants them in, but wants the best from a player.
A late-season winning habit may be suspicious in the NBA if opponents feel destined already, but initial results are good.
He hasn’t really been very good when he’s had the opportunity. Not sure how he got this job..
He won’t make it to Year 3.