Pressure is mounting on the Cavaliers after Cleveland has stumbled to an 11-16 record after the All-Star break for a team that once sat at 36-17, NBA insider Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack post. While an 18-2 record spanning through December and January improved coach J.B. Bickerstaff‘s standing within the organization, he may be on the hot seat following this disappointing stretch of games.
As Stein writes, Bickerstaff is still dealing with the fallout from falling to the Knicks in the first round of last year’s playoffs in just five games. Frustration is growing in Cleveland after last season’s playoffs and this season’s lackluster recent stretch, according to Stein.
Cleveland as a whole is feeling pressure, given the need to sign Donovan Mitchell to a contract extension this offseason. Mitchell is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract next year if there’s no extension and there’s a “growing belief” from rival teams that the Cavaliers might be forced to trade their superstar if the two sides can’t agree to an extension, Stein writes.
The Cavaliers paid a hefty price to bring in Mitchell in 2022, sending out Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton and multiple first-round picks for the All-Star guard.
We have more from Stein:
- The Mavericks are 16-2 since they inserted Daniel Gafford and Derrick Jones Jr. into the starting lineup, and have officially secured their second 50-win season since Jason Kidd took over as head coach in 2021. An extension for Kidd seems likely, according to Stein.
- Likewise, the Rockets‘ strong play in the second half of their season means general manager Rafael Stone may also earn a contract extension, Stein writes. The Rockets won just 22 games last season and are this season circling the .500 mark. The Ime Udoka hiring and Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks signings are among the reasons for Houston’s impressive season, which were all accomplished without sacrificing its core. Still, future decisions regarding whether the team will continue to build around Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green or trade for a higher-profile star are percolating, per Stein.
- Bulls head coach Billy Donovan‘s name was thrown around in regard to the newly opened Kentucky coaching job, but Stein was pessimistic about the chances of him moving back down to the college ranks, where he most notably coached at Florida from 1996-2015. Stein’s pessimism was confirmed on Thursday, with Kentucky targeting BYU’s Mark Pope to be its next head coach, meaning Donovan will stay with the Bulls (Twitter link via NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson).