Cavs' Marcus Morris says there was locker room disconnect before coach fired

NBA

By Dylan Svoboda

Published
May 24, 2024, 2:42 p.m. ET

The circumstances surrounding the Cavaliers’ firing of head coach JB Bickerstaff are becoming a little clearer.

Cavaliers veteran forward Marcus Morris suggested Friday that Bickerstaff may not have clicked with his players before his firing.

“Honestly, yeah, I kind of saw it,” Morris said on FanDuel TV when asked if there was a disconnect between Bickerstaff and the Cleveland locker room.

“Sorry to say that. It’s been there for a while, sometimes it’s just a little too long. I think he had the locker room. I think his time is up. Good guy on and off the field.

Marcus Morris admits there was a disconnect in the Cavs locker room

“I kind of saw it, sorry to say…I think (JB Bickerstaff’s) time just ran out.” 😬

(🎥 @RunItBackFDTV )

pic.twitter.com/XNGAkBeMpy

– NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 24, 2024

Bickerstaff, who took over in 2020 and signed a multi-year extension with the team in December 2021, was suspended after losing to the Celtics in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Cavaliers went 48-34 during the regular season, earning fourth place in the East this year and beating the Magic in seven games in the first round.

They fell short in the semifinals due to injuries, with Morris, who only played 12 games for the team this season, scoring 25 points in the season-ending loss to the Celtics.

Firing Bickerstaff was just the first move in what is expected to be a busy offseason in Cleveland.

Marcus Morris Sr. #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 30, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. — Marcus Morris Sr. celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 30, 2024 in Cleveland. Getty Images

After the team’s elimination, Cleveland.com reported that Donovan Mitchell “became frustrated with some teammates’ lack of maturity, focus, playoff preparation and willingness to listen.”

The Cavaliers are expected to offer the All-Star guard a maximum four-year extension, worth $208 million, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, as the franchise charts its future.

Head coach JB Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches the first quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round playoffs at TD Garden on May 9, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. — JB Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches the first quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round playoffs at TD Garden on May 9, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images

Mitchell could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season and become one of the hottest names on the NBA trade market if he doesn’t extend with the Cavaliers.

If Mitchell returns to Cleveland, it could mean the end of Darius Garland’s tenure with the team.

The Athletic reported that Garland’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, would likely look to get the point guard in a new uniform if Mitchell returns to the Cavaliers in 2024-25.