Report: Tyronn Lue will rejoin Cavs on Friday, ease back into coaching
The Cleveland Cavaliers are welcoming their head coach back for Friday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, but Tyronn Lue will not be assuming his usual position on the bench — at least not yet.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Lue is planning to rejoin the Cavs on Friday as more of an “observer.” The plan is for him to ease his way back into coaching over the next several games.
Cavaliers coach Ty Lue is planning to rejoin team vs. Pelicans in Cleveland today — as an observer, league sources tell ESPN. He won’t coach game. The plan will be to ease his way back into coaching over Cavs’ four-game homestand, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 30, 2018
The Cavs announced last week that Lue was taking a leave of absence to focus on his health, though the intention all along was to have him back in plenty of time for the playoffs. The coach said he has been dealing with chest pains and other symptoms throughout the season, though doctors have not been able to pinpoint the cause of the issues.
Cleveland has won five of six games in Lue’s absence and is fighting to hold onto the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Lue had an icy exchange with LeBron James prior to leaving the team, but there has been no indication that there are lingering problems between the two ahead of the postseason.