Pistons hire JB Bickerstaff as head coach after 5 seasons with Cavs: Report originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
The Detroit Pistons have a new coach.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that the franchise has tabbed former Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff as its next leading man. The agreement is supposed to be five years.
Sources ESPN: The Detroit Pistons are hiring JB Bickerstaff as the franchise’s next head coach. Bickerstaff comes to the Pistons after back-to-back trips to the playoffs with the Cavaliers – including the Eastern Conference semifinals. pic.twitter.com/ZlX0CZIH6C
-Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2024
Bickerstaff spent parts of five seasons in Cleveland before being fired in May. The Cavs have reached the postseason in each of the last two seasons, reaching the second round in 2024 before losing in five games to the eventual champions. Boston Celts.
The Pistons, meanwhile, fired Monty Williams earlier this month despite signing him to a six-year contract last offseason. Williams, who led Detroit to a 14-68 record in his only season as head coach, still had five years and $65 million remaining on his contract.
Bickerstaff, 45, compiled a 255-290 record in parts of eight seasons as head coach of the Houston Rockets (2015-16), Memphis Grizzlies (2017-19) and Cavaliers (2020-24).
It will be a difficult task for Bickerstaff to turn the Pistons around after the club missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Detroit hasn’t won a postseason series since 2008, when its streak of six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances ended.
The Pistons’ young core is led by Cade Cunningham, but they have several other recent lottery picks to build around. Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duran, Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland (drafted 5th overall last week) will be responsible for the franchise’s turnaround.
Bickerstaff filled the sixth and final head coaching vacancy of the 2024 NBA offseason following the Brooklyn Networks hired Jordi Fernándezthe Phoenix Suns hired Mike Budenholzer, the Wizards of Washington hired Brian Keefe, the Los Angeles Lakers hired JJ Redick and the Cavaliers hired Kenny Atkinson.
