NBA Rumors: J.B. Bickerstaff's Job in 'Serious Jeopardy' After Cavs' Loss to Celtics

Despite leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to back-to-back playoff appearances, including their first playoff series win without LeBron James since 1993, J.B. Bickerstaff may not return as head coach next season.

Per The Athletic's Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd, Bickerstaff's job is "in serious jeopardy" following the Cavs' season-ending loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Wednesday night.

The report noted a decision on Bickerstaff's future may not be immediate, as the team "is likely to take some time—multiple days—to make a decision."

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added that Cavs management will have "a lot of conversations on different ways to proceed" heading into the offseason.

It's hard to pin the blame for Cleveland's loss to the Celtics in five games entirely on Bickerstaff. Donovan Mitchell missed the final two games due to a strained left calf. Jarrett Allen hasn't played since Game 4 against the Orlando Magic in the first round because of a bruised rib.

Injuries were one of the defining stories for the 2023-24 Cavaliers. Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley combined to miss 84 games during the regular season. Allen, Georges Niang, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert were the only players who appeared in at least 65 games.

Despite all of the injury issues, the Cavs were able to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record.

As the Cavs move into the offseason, the biggest question for the franchise is Mitchell's future. He is under contract for two more seasons, with the second year being a player option.

Mitchell was asked numerous times during the season about potentially signing an extension, but he's declined to directly answer those questions.

Cavs governor Dan Gilbert told Larry Lage of the Associated Press in March he believes Mitchell will eventually sign an extension:

"We've been talking to him, sure, for the last couple of years about extending this contract. We think he will extend. I think if you listen to him talk, he loves the city. He loves the situation in Cleveland because our players are very young and we're just kind of putting the core together that he's clearly the biggest part of."

Even though the Cavaliers don't have to trade Mitchell if he doesn't re-sign this summer, it would be extremely risky for the franchise to let him play out next season and possibly lose him for nothing in free agency.

ESPN's Bobby Marks noted Mitchell is eligible for a four-year, $208 million extension starting July 6.

While the Mitchell saga will be the biggest focus in Cleveland, Bickerstaff's future is suddenly something else that is going to be under the microscope.

The 45-year-old Bickerstaff just finished his fifth season with the Cavaliers. He is one of the more successful head coaches in Cavs' history, ranking fifth in games (329) and wins (170).

Bickerstaff signed an extension with the Cavs early in the 2021-22 season that runs through the 2026-27 campaign.