J.B. Bickerstaff has led the Cavaliers to their first playoff series win without LeBron James and back-to-back postseason appearances.
Uncertain Future for Bickerstaff
Despite these achievements, insiders like Joe Vardon, Jason Lloyd, and Shams Charania say Bickerstaff’s job is “in serious jeopardy” after the Cavs lost to the Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last week.
The team isn’t rushing into any decisions. They plan to take several days before making a final call. Adrian Wojnarowski mentioned that the Cavs’ front office will have “a lot of conversations on different ways to proceed” as they approach summer.
❌ ZERO ECF appearances
❌ ZERO division titles
📊 170-159 overall recordShould the Cavs FIRE J.B. Bickerstaff?#LetEmKnow | #NBAPlayoffs
— FanDuel (@FanDuel)
Evaluating Options
An ESPN reporter added that while the Cavs are assessing Bickerstaff’s future, they still hold him in high regard. The market doesn’t offer many proven candidates either. This season marked their first trip to the Eastern semis since 2018.
I think it’s tough when a coach’s job hangs by a thread despite clear progress.
Bickerstaff expressed his desire to stay with Cleveland last week, emphasizing continuous improvement over recent years. He said, “We have continued to build this thing the right way… Every single year we’ve improved.”
He firmly believes no one has suggested he’s leaving: “This is definitely a place I want to be… No one’s told me I’m not.”
Key Decisions Ahead
With teams eyeing Donovan Mitchell, who hasn’t extended his contract yet, Cleveland faces crucial decisions this offseason. Bickerstaff remains committed due to what they’ve built together.
“We’ve got a good team,” he assured. “High-character players concerned about winning give you an opportunity.”
The Garland Factor
Things could get tricky if Darius Garland doesn’t renew his deal with Cleveland. Still, Garland believes in their progress: “We take a leap every year… Hopefully next year we’ll be in the Eastern Conference finals fully healthy.”
Reflecting on his journey from 19 wins when he was drafted to reaching conference semifinals now shows significant growth for both him and the team.
