The Commercial Appeal

Ex-grizz coach Bickerstaf­f reportedly hired by Cavs

- David Cobb Memphis Commercial Appeal USA TODAY NETWORK TENNESSEE

Former Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaf­f is set to reunite with his father in Cleveland.

Bickerstaf­f will be John Beilein's associate head coach with the Cavaliers, according to an ESPN report.

Bernie Bickerstaf­f, J.B.'S father, is a senior adviser for the Cavaliers after a lengthy coaching career of his own. When the Grizzlies hired J.B. as their full-time head coach last year, he and Bernie became the first black father-son duo in a major profession­al sport to each be head coaches.

Landing in Cleveland puts an end to more than a month of interviews and speculatio­n about J.B. Bickerstaf­f's next move after he was fired in Memphis on April 11, the day after the season ended.

Memphis finished 3349 in Bickerstaf­f's lone full season as head coach.

The Grizzlies are still searching for their next coach.

Bickerstaf­f interviewe­d for the Lakers and Cavaliers head coaching jobs. Ultimately, the Lakers hired former Pacers coach Frank Vogel, while Cleveland snatched the 66-year-old Beilein from the University of Michigan.

Grizzlies players voiced their support for Bickerstaf­f after the season.

But owner Robert Pera fired Bickerstaf­f and reshuffled the front office after Memphis missed the playoffs for a second consecutiv­e season.

Reach Grizzlies beat writer David Cobb at david.cobb@commercial­appeal.com or on Twitter @Davidwcobb.

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