The offseason has been busy for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
First, despite leading the team to the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2018 (LeBron James’ final season in Cleveland), the team fired longstanding head coach J.B. Bickerstaff this spring.
Bickerstaff would eventually finish with a 170-159 overall regular season record during his tenure with the team, plus a 6-11 playoff record, having made the postseason three times (including one play-in tournament berth in 2021-22) and two playoff appearances after four seasons and change (he was a late replacement for John Beilein in 2019–20). Bickerstaff is the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, a weak team.
After Bickerstaff left, Cleveland hired veteran assistant coach Kenny Atkinson from the Golden State Warriors to take his position. Jordan Ott, a former assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, is joining Atkinson’s bench.
Cleveland general manager Koby Altman chose small forward Jaylon Tyson out of Cal with the 20th overall choice in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Most significantly, the Cavaliers re-signed their best player, superstar guard Donovan Mitchell, to a $150.3 million, three-year deal extension.
In contrast, the Cavaliers have been unusually silent about past deals. The team’s former No. 5 overall pick in 2020, swingman Isaac Okoro, has entered unrestricted free agency and is unlikely to return.
Following his selection by the Hornets with the 12th overall choice in 2018 from Michigan State, the 6-foot-7 power forward/small forward had a breakthrough 2021–22 year. In 80 games, he averaged 20.2 points with a slash line of.491/.331/.802, seven rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. In the voting for Most Improved Player, he came in ninth.
That summer, he appeared ready to secure a big contract through restricted free agency.
Then everything was altered. Bridges’s brutal assault of his ex-girlfriend Mychelle Johnson in front of two of their three small children in July led to his arrest for felony domestic violence. Ultimately, he entered a plea of not guilty to the felony domestic charge and was given a three-year probationary term.
Although Bridges missed all of the 2022–2023 season with the Hornets, his official suspension was only in effect for 30 games in 2023–2024. Allegations surfaced in October 2023 that he assaulted Johnson’s vehicle while their kids were inside, leading to accusations of breaking both his protection order and probation.
The 26-year-old is an odd target for any self-respecting team this summer because of his unsettling behavior. Does his 2023–24 average of 21 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists make up for his horrible personal shortcomings?