Throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, Spencer Davies is going to turn back the clock to milestone moments and important dates in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ past with “This Day In Cavs History.” Whether they’ve been good, bad or sad, these events were significant in the franchise’s 53-year existence.
The Cavaliers owe a huge debt of gratitude to Tyronn Lue. Not only did he suddenly take over for David Blatt as head coach of the team in the middle of the 2015-16 season, but it also led to an NBA championship run that brought the city its first major sports title since 1964.
Lue was able to get through to LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in a way no other coach could. After accomplishing what he did, his name will go down in franchise history books for eternity.
But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
Trudging into the 2018-19 campaign, there was an awkward feeling. Following Cleveland’s third Finals loss in four years to the Golden State Warriors, LeBron went west and joined the Los Angeles Lakers. While some young pieces were acquired at the 2018 trade deadline to win now and develop (Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr.), there were still remnants of a contender on a roster that frankly wasn’t going to be able to compete in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavs had a sort of one-foot-in, one-foot-out team. Championship-seeking veterans like Love, JR Smith, Tristan Thompson, Kyle Korver and George Hill were in a locker room with somewhat experienced players (named above) and No. 8 overall pick Collin Sexton.
The older players weren’t the only ones operating under the guise they’d be contending. Lue had been to four straight title series, meaning his expectations were still high. Following an 0-6 start and a harsh dose of reality, the Cavs made a change in the snap of a finger.
In place of Lue, his associate Larry Drew took over originally as “the voice” of the team before eventually agreeing to terms to become the acting head coach for the season. On Oct. 28, 2018, Cavs general manager Koby Altman made the announcement.
“This was a very difficult decision. It is especially so, considering Coach Lue’s time with us over the last four years, including four straight trips to the NBA Finals,” said Altman. “We have respect and great admiration for Ty, not only as a coach, but a person. We thank him for the many ways he has contributed to our success, wish him the best and he will always be remembered for leading a very special Cavs team back against the odds to win the title in 2016. This is a different team equation, though, and one that we felt needed a different voice and approach that required this change.”
Drew had plenty of previous head coaching experience with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, including three straight postseason appearances from 2010-13 in Atlanta. Still, this was not going to be a long-term thing.
The Cavs ended up making a ton of tweaks during the season and wound up going 19-57 the rest of the campaign to finish 19-63 overall.
The tough year resulted in Cleveland getting the fifth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, which turned into Darius Garland.
Drew ultimately rejoined Lue as a member of his staff when he got the Los Angeles Clippers job in 2020-21.
More must-reads: