UPDATE (Feb. 19): Beilein officially steps down from position with Cavs
Cavaliers coach John Beilein left a prime college coaching situation at Michigan to take over in Cleveland, but the adjustment to managing professionals has proven rocky.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Beilein will resign as head coach on Wednesday, with associate head coach JB Bickerstaff taking over as head coach.
Story filed to ESPN: After a brief and tumultuous tenure, John Beilein is leaving as Cleveland's coach. Associate HC JB Bickerstaff will be elevated to head coach. Beilein's expected to say goodbye to staff and players on Wednesday upon team's return from All-Star Break.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2020
According to a report earlier Tuesday from Shams Charania and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, the Cavaliers had been in “advanced talks” to part ways with Beilein by Wednesday. Beilein would reportedly walk away from the final four years of the five-year deal he signed with the Cavaliers last summer.
Sources: Cavaliers, John Beilein in advanced talks about parting ways by Wednesday — and Beilein walking away from remainder of his contract.
Story with @ByJasonLloyd on @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/P3jYz5RGrt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 18, 2020
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers had planned for a Beilein-Bickerstaff succession plan, but did not expect to utilize it this early in Beilein’s tenure with the team. According to Wojnarowski, the 40-year-old Bickerstaff would be promoted to full-time head coach, not interim.
The Cavaliers had planned for a Beilein-Bickerstaff succession plan, but never imagined it would come at the All-Star break of Beilein's first season. Bickerstaff would be promoted to the full-time coaching role, not on an interim basis, per sources. https://t.co/AnQH9aUaT0
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 18, 2020
Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that Beilein was slated to talk with Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert to discuss a timeline for his departure.
The 67-year-old is overseeing a team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and needed to defuse a tough locker room situation after claiming he misspoke in telling his team they were no longer playing like a bunch of “thugs.”
The Cavs are 14-40, which is second only to the 12-43 Golden State Warriors for the worst mark in the NBA. Just before the NBA All-Star break began, Cleveland ended its 12-game home losing streak by thumping the Atlanta Hawks, 127-105. So far this season, the Cavs have lost five in a row or more five different times and have been under .500 since Oct. 28.
Since making The Finals in 2018, the Cavs are 33-103 and have had three coaches in that span (Tyronn Lue, Larry Drew and Beilein).
