Pistons Hiring JB Bickerstaff As Head Coach

The Detroit Pistons intend to hire J.B. Bickerstaff as the franchise’s next head coach, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Bickerstaff was fired as Cavaliers coach after five-and-a-half seasons at the end of 2023-24. He compiled a 170-159 record in the regular season and a 6-11 mark in the playoffs.

Under Bickerstaff the Cavs took the next step in the playoffs in each of the last three years — from play-in tournament to first round to the Eastern Conference semifinals this past season. But the Cavs’ struggles after the All-Star break in each of those seasons were part of what led to his dismissal in Cleveland.

In Detroit, he takes over for Monty Williams, fired after just one year. The Pistons still owe Williams $65 million.

This all comes after they set the NBA single-season record for consecutive losses, dropping 28 straight in 2023-24.

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, Cavs star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell didn’t have great confidence in Bickerstaff. 

“League sources briefed on the Cavaliers’ mindset told The Athletic that Bickerstaff’s job is in serious jeopardy after five and a half years as head coach, following the team’s season-ending loss in Game 5 of the second round to the Celtics,” Charania, Vardon and Lloyd wrote. “Two league sources said the team is likely to take some time — multiple days — to make a decision. … Multiple league sources have said, for months, that Mitchell did not have great confidence in Bickerstaff, and he was not alone.

“Several players questioned Bickerstaff’s strategies, game management, practice habits and accountability measures, privately and publicly, throughout the season.”

Sources told Hoops Wire that the Cavs came close to firing Bickerstaff before the midway point of the regular season.

Nonetheless, Bickerstaff has a proven track record of being the right man for a rebuild, which is the situation he’s facing in Detroit.