According to reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a deal with John Beilein to become their next head coach.
Michigan’s John Beilein has agreed to a five-year deal to become coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 13, 2019
One of the most respected college coaches in the United States, Beilein has been a head coach for 27 seasons including the last 12 at the University of Michigan where he reached the national championship game twice, losing to Louisville in 2013 and to Villanova in 2018. Prior to his stint at Michigan, Beilein coached at West Virginia, Richmond and Canisius and has 571 career wins.
Beilein takes over a Cavaliers team that went 19-63 last season after losing LeBron James to free agency in the summer of 2018. The Cavaliers fired Tyronn Lue after starting 0-6 and replaced him with interim coach Larry Drew who had spent the previous five seasons with the Cavaliers as an assistant coach.
Rookie Collin Sexton, last year's 8th overall pick, came on strong to finish the season as he averaged 20.8 points per game after the All-Star break. Five-time All-Star Kevin Love only played 22 games last season after suffering a toe injury that caused him to miss 60 games. Love has four years left on his deal and is on the books for $28.9 million next season.
The Cavaliers have a 14.0% chance at winning the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday's draft lottery, tied with the Suns and Knicks for the best overall odds. Cleveland has had good luck in the lottery in recent years, landing the first overall pick in 2014 (drafted Andrew Wiggins then traded to Minnesota Timberwolves), 2013 (drafted Anthony Bennett) and 2011 (drafted Kyrie Irving).
