The Clevland Cavaliers dismissed head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Thursday, May 23, 2024, after four seasons with the Cavs and a 1-4 series loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
Bickerstaff led the Cavaliers to a 48-34 regular-season record, securing the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs and their second postseason appearance in the past two seasons. Cleveland captured its first postseason series win this past season since Lebron James left Cleveland for Los Angeles in 2018.
However, the Caveliers' 1-4 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals loss should not overshadow the significance of star guard Donavan Mitchell’s left calf injury, which caused him to miss games four and five of their best-of-seven series against the Celtics. With Mitchell, Cleveland recorded a 1-2 record against Boston. With his injury occurring in their Game 3 loss, it was the catalyst for the Celtics reaching their third straight Eastern Conference Finals.
Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman and GM Mike Gansey will start to formulate a list in coming days, but one candidate to monitor: Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson. He coached Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert to playoffs with Nets. https://t.co/9GMvmp49BJ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 23, 2024
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson is expected to be a top candidate for the Cavaliers' vacant head coach position.
