Tyronn Lue didn't last long in the post-LeBron James era.
Cavs general manager Koby Altman fired Lue on Sunday morning, according to The Athletic's Joe Vardon. Lue leaves the team with an overall record of 128-83 and a championship ring, but a brutal 0-6 start this season, including double-digit losses to the Hawks and Nets, sealed Lue's fate.
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So, where does Cleveland go from here? Here are a few possible replacement candidates...
Larry Drew (interim head coach)
The Cavs are planning to promote Drew, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, so he's not technically a candidate. He's got the job — for now. Wojnarowski reports there is only the possibility of a "longer-term appointment" down the road, so there's no guarantee Drew stays in charge all that long, especially if the team opts for a full rebuild.
UPDATE: Drew is willing to help the Cavs with the transition period, but he is reluctant to commit to the rest of the season without a contract keeping him on board beyond 2018-19.
Frank Vogel
Vogel would not be a pick that would knock anyone’s socks off, but he has a solid reputation and has done well getting his teams to play with toughness and a defensive mindset. He was doomed in Orlando once the team changed over the front office, but he has a good resume and would be a safe pick. He’s also available pronto.
Ettore Messina
Messina has the Gregg Popovich pedigree, and the Cavs have shown a willingness to bring in coaches with European backgrounds — see David Blatt — but there’s a reason NBA teams have yet to give him a chance as the head coach. Some feel he is too rough and rigid on players and that his style might not translate well.
Of course, given the way the Cavs have played, maybe that’d be a good thing.
Ime Udoka
Udoka also comes with the odor of Popovich on him, but as a seven-year NBA veteran, his voice carries a different weight in the locker room. He was a strong candidate for multiple jobs last summer, and among assistants around the league, is considered ready for a head job.
Kenny Smith
Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert keeps a close watch on what goes on with the Pistons back in his hometown of Detroit, and the Pistons seriously considered taking Smith from the confines of the TNT studio and putting him on the sidelines. The Cavs, as constructed, might not be of much interest to Smith, but he’s a name to watch.
Jay Larranaga
In the annals of assistant coaches looking for head-coaching gigs, Larranaga is building up quite a list of jobs for which he has been a bridesmaid. But he has a strong coaching background (his father is 47-year college coaching veteran Jim Larranaga), and he deserves considerable credit for the development of the Celtics over the last six years, dating back to even before Brad Stevens became head coach.
Monty Williams
Williams landed with the Sixers last summer and could be inclined to stick with Brett Brown as the team develops over the next few years. But he did well during his time with the Pelicans and was probably let go prematurely there. Again, the Cavs need a defensive-minded guy, and Williams is one.
David Vanterpool
Vanterpool coached overseas for five seasons with CSKA Moscow under Messina, and he has been an important part of the Trail Blazers’ staff since coming to the NBA in 2012, helping develop the Damian Lillard-CJ McCollum backcourt.
He was one of the coaches who interviewed for the Sixers job that went to Brett Brown, and he also interviewed for the Hornets and Magic jobs last summer.
Rex Kalamian
When the Raptors let Dwane Casey go last spring, the two main candidates to replace him were assistants Nick Nurse and Kalamian. Nurse got the job, and Kalamian was hired by the Clippers.
But Kalamian still carries a good reputation for player relationships and was the architect of Toronto’s much-improved defense last season.