Bickerstaff last season led the Cavaliers to their first playoff win without LeBron James on the team since 1993, but was still fired in May with the Cavs citing a need for a fresh voice and different ideas. Bickerstaff went 170-159 in four-plus seasons in Cleveland (.517 win percentage), after taking over as interim coach near the end of the 2019-20 season.

The Cavs had a solid defensive foundation, ranking seventh in defensive efficiency this season despite numerous injuries to starters, and a diminutive backcourt in Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell.

READ MORE: Pistons mailbag: Who are top free-agent targets? An extension for Cade Cunningham?

Here’s a sampling of reaction to the Pistons hiring of Bickerstaff, who becomes their third head coach in three years, replacing the fired Monty Williams after one historically bad 14-68 season: