INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Earlier than beginning his summer season break, Donovan Mitchell let the Cavaliers know he’s joyful in Cleveland and excited concerning the future.
With a brand new coach.
Whereas Mitchell did not converse publicly about J.B. Bickerstaff or their relationship, the All-Star guard’s enter probably knowledgeable and formed the staff’s determination to make a training change regardless of the Cavaliers advancing to the second spherical of the playoffs.
A day after Bickerstaff was fired regardless of successful 99 video games the previous two seasons and serving to the Cavaliers return to relevance following LeBron James’ departure, president of basketball operations Koby Altman tried to clarify the rationale behind the considerably stunning dismissal.
Bickerstaff did not do something flawed. He simply reached his restrict with a staff reshaped by Mitchell’s arrival in a 2022 commerce from Utah.
Throughout a 35-minute media availability Friday, Altman praised Bickerstaff’s “plain” success however mentioned the Cavaliers really feel they’re positioned so as to add a frontrunner who can get them nearer to successful a championship.
“Somebody with a brand new strategy, somebody with a distinct voice, a contemporary set of eyes to assist us transfer ahead,” Altman mentioned. “We have completed lots in the previous couple of years, attending to a convention semifinal, and we do not need to be complacent.
“We really feel we’re not far off.”
In fact, a lot of that hinges on Mitchell, who can signal a four-year, $200 million contract extension with the Cavaliers this summer season. Altman met with the 27-year-old after Cleveland’s loss to Boston in Sport 5 of the Japanese Convention semifinals. Mitchell, who struggled with a left knee harm over the ultimate two months of the common season, sat out the ultimate two video games within the collection in opposition to the Celtics with a calf pressure.
Altman mentioned the suggestions he received from Mitchell throughout his exit interview was encouraging.
“This can be a participant that has had two of one of the best years of his profession right here, has had loads of success right here, understands the infrastructure,” Altman mentioned. “I believe he has loads of belief in what we’re doing and understands that our aim is to win a championship.
“From his personal phrases, he says he is joyful right here. He likes it right here. And so he is all the time been very real. He is all the time been very intentional. He is been an important teammate. Now we have to take all that at face worth and say, OK, we be ok with the place we’re with Donovan. Clearly, issues may change.”
Altman denied Mitchell’s contract or views affected the choice on Bickerstaff.
The bottom has already begun to shift in Cleveland. The choice to maneuver on from Bickerstaff is a daring one and never with out danger.
Whereas he had his flaws — rotations, changes, third-quarter collapses and post-All-Star break slumps amongst them — Bickerstaff took a 22-win staff in 2020-21 to the cusp of a convention title in three years.
And this season, he saved Cleveland among the many East’s leaders regardless of a litany of accidents.
Mitchell performed in simply 55 regular-season video games, and guard Darius Garland (57) and ahead Evan Mobley (50) have been additionally restricted by accidents.
Heart Jarrett Allen missed the ultimate 9 video games of the postseason with an harm Altman described as a “pierced” rib suffered within the opening spherical in opposition to the Orlando Magic. For weeks, the Cavaliers mentioned Allen was coping with a painful bruise.
Bickerstaff appeared to get probably the most out of what he had. Nonetheless, Altman, chairman Dan Gilbert and others within the entrance workplace felt as if there was extra untapped potential in a roster with its share of shortcomings.
The Mitchell-Garland and Allen-Mobley pairings stay works in progress, however Altman, citing statistics, pushed again on the notion they need to be dissolved.
Altman additionally mentioned he believes Cleveland’s core 4 — Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen — has but to achieve its potential, pointing to Milwaukee and Denver as examples of groups needing time to construct earlier than successful titles.
The coach needed to go, however the Cavaliers might in any other case keep primarily intact.
“I do not see massive main sweeping modifications,” Altman mentioned. “Extra information speaks to [how] this works than it does not. You’ll be able to’t win 99 video games over the common season, make it to a convention semi and be like, this does not work. That is simply Yr 2 of this iteration, of this core being collectively.
“I’ve loads of pleasure for the long run for this group and perception on this group.”
Altman and his employees will use the vacation weekend to decompress earlier than reconvening and starting their first seek for a brand new coach in 5 years.
He intimated he does not have a listing of candidates but, although exterior names are already being floated, with Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson, New Orleans assistant James Borrego and Frank Vogel, who was fired after one season in Phoenix, amongst these talked about most.
Ideally, the Cavaliers wish to have a brand new coach in place by the draft on June 26. Altman mentioned there was no timeline to search out Bickerstaff’s successor however that there’s a mandate to make the right alternative.
“Completely have to search out the suitable chief,” he mentioned. “There’s stress in all the things we do, so I get the significance of this. There was nothing that J.B. did categorically flawed. To say that, now now we have to get this proper.”
