The Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Thursday morning, and fans are now learning more about the reasons behind his dismissal.
On ESPN Cleveland, NBA insider Brian Windhorst explained that the team’s front office decided “keeping J.B. would not have been an asset in re-signing Donovan Mitchell.”
While Windhorst didn’t delve into further details, it’s evident that the Cavaliers believed firing Bickerstaff would help them retain Mitchell.
Retaining Mitchell has been Cleveland’s top priority throughout the year. Thus, it’s not surprising that they chose to part ways with Bickerstaff to improve their chances of signing Mitchell to a new contract extension.
"The Cavs in their analysis here felt that keeping JB would not have been an asset in re-signing Donovan Mitchell," – @WindhorstESPN on how Mitchell fit into this coaching move. pic.twitter.com/EXI98WFIse
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 23, 2024
Windhorst also noted that Mitchell doesn’t want to be involved in the search for a new head coach, leaving that task solely to the front office.
Whoever is hired to replace Bickerstaff will need to have a solid plan to maximize Mitchell’s performance. This new hiring will provide the Cavaliers an opportunity to better utilize their roster, especially their star player.
With Bickerstaff gone, fans are left wondering what other changes might be on the horizon for Cleveland. Will there be player trades or updates on Mitchell’s contract situation?
Although the Cavaliers had a strong regular season under Bickerstaff’s leadership, it wasn’t enough. The front office felt that letting Bickerstaff go was the only way to fully leverage Mitchell and the team’s potential.
