Bickerstaff, Cavs agree on four-year extension

Cavaliers are 5-5 since Beilein stepped down

The Cavaliers agree to a fouryear contract extension with Coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who took over as the Cavs’ head coach after John Beilein’s departure midway through his first season.

J.B. Bickerstaff was excited to not have “interim” attached to his name when he replaced John Beilein as head coach of the Cavaliers last month.

Now he has reason to be elated.

Bickerstaff, an assistant coach under Beilein for the first 53 games (14-39) of 2019-20, has been on the job as head coach for 10 games heading into the Cavaliers’ game in Chicago on March 10. He agreed to a four-year contract extension earlier in the day.

The Cavaliers have gone 5-5 under Bickerstaff. They beat the Wizards on the road on Feb. 21 in Bickerstaff’s first game as head coach and since then beat the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs at home.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of J.B.’s caliber and basketball pedigree lead our franchise as head coach,” Cavs general manager Koby Altman said in a statement. “His wealth of experience, coupled with the respect he has garnered around the NBA and with this team, has made for a seamless transition from associate head coach to head coach.

“The amount of grit and determination instilled in our players, from both an accountability and attention to detail standpoint over this short period of time, has been met with admiration, respect and overall excitement throughout our entire locker room.”

The plan when Beilein was hired in May and given a five-year contract was for Bickerstaff to eventually take over. No one expected it to happen as quickly as it did.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am for this opportunity to lead the Cavaliers and our promising and enthusiastic group of players that has been assembled here in Cleveland,” Bickerstaff said in a statement. “I want to thank (Cavs owner) Dan Gilbert and Koby Altman for having the trust and faith in my ability to coach this team, but also allowing me the freedom and endless resources to assist in creating a sustainable culture of winning and professional growth.”

Despite winning their last two games and the relative success they’ve had under Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers are still last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-45. Their game with the Bulls marks the start of a six-game road trip that continues in Charlotte, Atlanta, Houston, Orlando and Indiana.

Bickerstaff was a head coach with the Rockets on an interim basis for 71 games in 2015-16 (37-34) and an interim coach with the Grizzlies for part of 2017-18 (15-48) plus all of 2018-19.

He was fired after going 33-49 in Memphis in his only year at the helm.

TONY DEJAK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff was given a four-year extension on his contract March 10.