Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue stepping away from duties due to health-related reasons

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue says needs to “step back from coaching for the time being” to deal with a persistent health issue.

TNT analyst David Aldridge reports Lue will be on a one-week plan to address his health issues and that the current plan is for him to return to the bench next week.

Tyronn Lue will be on a one-week plan to address his health issues, per source. The current plan is to return to the bench next week.

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) March 19, 2018

In a statement released by the team, Lue and Cavs general manager Koby Altman addressed Lue’s recent health issues. He spent the second half of Saturday’s Cavs-Bulls game in the locker room with an undisclosed illness.

Lue cited dealing with “chest pains and other troubling symptoms, compounded by a loss of sleep, thoughout the year. Despite a battery of tests, there have been no conclusions as to what the exact issue is.”

According to multiple reports, associate head coach Larry Drew will take over as coach.

Here’s Lue’s statement, via Cavs.com:

“After many conversations with our doctors and Koby and much thought given to what is best for the team and my health, I need to step back from coaching for the time being and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation from which to coach for the rest of the season.

I have had chest pains and other troubling symptoms, compounded by a loss of sleep, throughout the year. Despite a battery of tests, there have been no conclusions as to what the exact issue is.

While I have tried to work through it, the last thing I want is for it to affect the team. I am going to use this time to focus on a prescribed routine and medication, which has previously been difficult to start in the midst of a season. My goal is to come out of it a stronger and healthier version of myself so I can continue to lead this team to the Championship we are all working towards.

I greatly appreciate Dan Gilbert, Koby Altman, our medical team and the organization’s support throughout.”

From Koby Altman:

“We know how difficult these circumstances are for Coach Lue and we support him totally in this focused approach to addressing his health issues.”

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Lue had been considering stepping way for several weeks but resisted doing so until now.

Ty Lue has been considering this option of stepping away for several weeks, but resisted until now, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/X0cKojiJmw

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 19, 2018

At Monday’s practice, Cavs star LeBron James said he knew Lue “was struggling, but was never not himself.”

“He was just dealing with it the best way he could, but he was never not himself when he was around. … He was the same every single day, even though he was going through what he was going through,” James said.

Per Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon, Lue has had his conditioned checked numerous times by doctors with no diagnosis:

Lue has been examined repeatedly by Cleveland Clinic doctors for months and undergone a battery of tests, and there is no diagnosis. He’s missed all or parts of three games this season because of his symptoms, including the second half of the Cavs’ win over Chicago on Saturday.

Sunday marked the second time this season Lue left a game because he wasn’t feeling well, and he also sat one out against Chicago at home in December. Drew filled in for him in the second half vs. Chicago, where the Cavs saw their 17-point lead reduced to zero with 4:12 left before surging past the Bulls for a 114-109 win.

Injuries have been an issue for the Cavs in general of late, but some good news may be looming in that department. The Cavs host the Milwaukee Bucks (7 ET, ESPN) tonight and have Kyle Korver and Kevin Love both listed as questionable. Love has not played since Jan. 29 because of a broken left hand, but had been targeting a date this week as a potential comeback.

Cedi Osman, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson, however, will all be out for tonight’s game.