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Report: Cavaliers, Beilein expected to part ways by Wednesday

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in advanced talks with head coach John Beilein about parting ways, and a resolution is expected to come by Wednesday, report The Athletic's Jason Lloyd and Shams Charania.

Beilein and the Cavs are working toward a contract settlement, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The 67-year-old's current pact covers the next four seasons and includes a fifth-year team option. The deal pays the first-year NBA bench boss between $4 million to $4.5 million annually, Lloyd and Charania add.

Associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is reportedly expected to be promoted following Beilein's departure. He'd take over in a full-time capacity, rather than on an interim basis, Wojnarowski notes.

This would mark the third time Bickerstaff has assumed head coaching duties midway through a campaign. He replaced Kevin McHale as head coach of the Houston Rockets during the 2015-16 season and took over for David Fizdale after the Memphis Grizzlies fired the latter in 2017.

Beilein, who established himself over a collegiate coaching career spanning more than four decades, reportedly entered All-Star Weekend mulling his future with the Cavaliers and was considering stepping down.

Reports of the former Michigan Wolverines coach struggling to win over Cleveland's locker room date back to December. In January, Beilein referred to his players as "thugs" during a film session, later clarifying he meant to say "slugs."

The Cavaliers entered the All-Star break with a 14-40 record, good for dead last in the Eastern Conference.

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