Fresh off an NBA championship in his first season handling head-coaching duties for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyronn Lue and the Cavs organization are looking forward to additional years of success. Both parties agreed Monday to a five-year deal for Lue to remain as head coach of the defending NBA champions.
The contract extension is for five years, $35 million, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. The 39-year old Lue is coming off a season in which he replaced previous head coach David Blatt, who was fired in January despite leading Cleveland to a 30-11 record, best in the Eastern Conference. Lue highlighted a style of play he believed suited the players on his roster, particularly on running the floor and using their athleticism during transition opportunities. He posted a 27-14 record for the rest of the regular season but led the Cavs throughout the playoffs, coming back from a 1-3 deficit in the Finals to defeat the 73-win Golden State Warriors.
According to a report from ESPN, Lue's contract is fully guaranteed for the first four seasons, with the final year being a team option. When he took over Blatt in January, Lue did not sign a new contract, thus making him eligible for this extension. Lue was previously the highest-paid assistant in the NBA when he joined the Cavs in 2014 on a four-year, $6.5 million deal.
Lue is known to be popular among his players, particularly team leader LeBron James. He is said to relate very well with his players, knowing how and when to properly communicate as well as keeping them accountable for their actions. This steady balance has earned him respect of not only his team, but his front office, fan base and other organizations as well.
The Missouri native was notably calm and collected despite being a rookie coach in his first Finals coaching experience and facing adversity with a 1-3 deficit. He made a number of key decisions and adjustments in Game Five that gave them the momentum heading back home to Cleveland for Game Six and ultimately winning a very tough Game Seven on the road in Golden State.