Former Cavaliers coach and current Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue is expected to be one of the NBA’s most popular head coaching candidates this offseason, and he’s unlikely to come at a discount, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Vardon says that when Lue talked to the Lakers about their top job during the spring of 2019, he was seeking $7MM annually on a five-year contract. L.A.’s best offer was $20MM over three years, per The Athletic.
The Lakers won’t be in the market for a head coach this year, but there are several intriguing openings potentially in play for Lue, including the Nets, Sixers, and Pelicans jobs. Vardon notes that the Rockets could also join that list of Lue suitors if they decide to move on from Mike D’Antoni.
According to Vardon, there were frustrations within the Pelicans organization with Alvin Gentry around Christmas time in 2019, and if Lue had been available at that time – rather than working as a Clippers assistant – New Orleans may have moved on from Gentry and hired Lue during the season. However, sources tell Vardon that the Pelicans aren’t looking to spend more than about $5.5MM per year on their new head coach, so the competition for Lue may price them out.
Here are more head coaching notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- Lue expects to receive an offer from the Nets, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). While Gregg Popovich may be Brooklyn’s dream candidate, Lue looks like a better bet to ultimately claim the Nets’ coaching job, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
- Lue is also viewed as the Sixers‘ top candidate. However, some agents have wondered if team ownership will be willing to pay big money for Lue while Brett Brown‘s salary is still on the books for two more years, per Jabari Young of CNBC.com. Young adds Bucks assistant Darvin Ham to the list of candidates believed to be in the mix for the 76ers’ job.
- Warriors associate head coach Mike Brown is receiving consideration from the Sixers for their coaching vacancy, though it remains to seen whether he’ll be interviewed, Pompey reports for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“However, some agents have wondered if team ownership will be willing to pay big money for Lue while Brett Brown is still on the books for two more years…”
Perfect example of a dysfunctional organization. “We want a better head coach than the one we had. We’re not willing to pay the price, though.”
76ers
Projected tax line 132.6 million
Projected team salary 158.2 million
That is about 70 million tax payment
Coaches salary don’t count towards the tax
Typical move. The FO has no clue. Why fire Brett if you are going to go cheap on next coach? Cheap means, either first timer or retread who hasn’t been in the top seat for some time. Those are not championship considerations, those are moves rebuilding squads make
I count only players payroll
The team is not worth paying 30 million tax due to pandemic
I know he won a championship but it Lue actually a coach worthy of being the top candidate everywhere? I’m genuinely curious here. Anyone in Cleveland have thoughts on his body of work?
*is
I’d actually be considering other candidates. Lue couldn’t handle the stress.
Definitely not worth the $7M+ he is seeking. No idea why this guy gets so much credit for nothing, while actually decent options like JVG and Marc Jackson don’t even get a mention.
The young player coaches are whats in, in todays game. The van gundys, clifford, boylen type coaches are going to get phased out soon.
If pop stays at Spurs
The best job by job security
Bulls – part ways owners need to pay
Pacers
Rockets
76ers
Nets
Not good for 76ers
I believe Brett Brown salary is 5 million a year
Lue demands 7 mil per
Mike Brown demands 5 mil per
What a mess
I believe Ime Udoka is going to get the Sixers HC job. Being a former player and over-achiever, I think, would get him the respect in the locker room that Brett Brown didn’t necessarily have from the players. Sure the players liked Brett Brown as a guy. As the coach, I think he lost respect when he failed to hold players accountable.
Lue might be worse then Brett tbh
Mike Brown deserves another shot, he got a raw deal in both Cleveland and LA.
He didn’t get a raw deal in Cleveland. He was a terrible offensive coach.
You can only accomplish so much offensively with hot garbage. Those teams were crap, especially offensively, outside of LeBron and they still one 60+ games multiple times. Look at the rosters again.
won*
He was a terrible offensive coach with no innovation. Give the ball to Lebron while everyone stands around and watches was terrible coaching no matter how you slice it.
I mean who was he supposed to innovate with a washed up Ben Wallace, Varejao, Boobie Gibson and a bunch of players who would be in the g league in today’s league?
Are we going pretend Mo Williams, Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison never played under his watch. Those weren’t bad offensive players.
My man, there is no way in heck you can put Mo, Donyell, or any of the other Cavs on a list of top players!! Obviously you’re not aware of teams configurations, you need Lebron and at least a minimum of 1 superstar. LeBron and a bunch of 7 men ain’t gonna cut it. Mike Brown won with what he had! Went to a championship in the east. People always give Doc credit in Boston, Doc wasn’t and couldn’t win until they got KG, Ray Allen, Rondo!!
My man, there is no way in heck you can put Mo, Donyell, or any of the other Cavs on a list of top players!! Obviously you’re not aware of teams configurations, you need Lebron and at least a minimum of 1 superstar. LeBron and a bunch of 7 men ain’t gonna cut it. Mike Brown won with what he had! Went to a championship in the east. People always give Doc credit in Boston, Doc wasn’t and couldn’t win until they got KG, Ray Allen, Rondo!!
Popovich if the Nets want a coach, Lue if you want Irving and Durant to call the shots.