Report: Tension Between Cavaliers’ Front Office and Coaching Staff

NBA reporter Chris B. Haynes revealed news that the Cavaliers’ front office and members of Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff are at odds over contract negotiations.

Although Lue received his contract-extension in late-July, his assistants are still “free-agents” and Haynes reports that “frustration is at its worst.”

Haynes mentions assistant coaches Damon Jones, Phil Handy, James Posey, Jim Boylan, and Larry Drew in the list of frustrated parties.

Lue has made it clear that he wants his assistant coaches retained and resigned, but five weeks after he signed an extension with the Cavs, all but one of the assistant coaches mentioned by Haynes have contracts.

Haynes also reports that Lue was attempting to make Drew his “associate head coach,” which would be a higher salary than what Drew is currently making from his original contract with the Cavs, when he was the “third assistant coach” in the totem pole.

The Cavs picked up a team option on Drew for 2016-17, meaning he’s basically going to make the same amount of money as he did under David Blatt, even though his role has expanded.

Ultimately, this seems to be all about money, job security, and financial stability. Most teams who are fresh off of championships don’t have this sort of tension in the process of trying to retain assistant coaches.

The easy answer would be “just pay the guys, they helped win a title.”

Perhaps the Cavs’ front office has their own take on it.

Whatever the case, Coach Lue can’t be pleased with this situation.

Watch the full video, in which Haynes describes the situation: