Drew's run as Cavs coach could be nearing end

CLEVELAND (AP) — Larry Drew guided the Cavaliers through a stormy season sprinkled with injuries, losing streaks and NBA lottery dreams.

The coach, who is 61 years old, skillfully managed a consistently changing team roster, motivated his young team while maintaining a fun and focused environment, and played a significant role in the remarkable development of rookie guard Collin Sexton.

Players and peers widely respected Drew for his achievements.

Nonetheless, another season may not be in the cards for him.

Drew stated on Sunday that he hasn’t discussed his future with Cleveland’s front office. There’s a prevalent belief within the team that his last game as a coach will be on Tuesday when the Cavaliers end their season against the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets need to win against both Cleveland and Orlando to have any shot at the playoffs.

The moment LeBron James opted for Los Angeles for his next move in July, the Cavaliers’ four-year run in the Finals and their hopes came to an end.

While Drew is probably approaching the end of his tenure with the Cavs, the esteem for him persists.

“Despite the numerous injuries we suffered, he did an exceptional job. We had a challenging start, but wouldn’t term it as turmoil,” said Kevin Love, the star forward who played only 22 games due to a toe surgery and other injuries. “From the moment he took charge, he encouraged us to play very hard and I believe that intensity was maintained throughout.”

The meticulousness we observed, our practices, our shootarounds, everything was finely tuned and highly professional. Therefore, I have always supported LD and held him in high regard. Regardless of whether he will be with us next year or not, I believe he will make a significant difference either in our team or another organization.

“He has been involved for 40 years and still has much to contribute.”

Before the Cavaliers suffered their ninth consecutive loss to San Antonio on Sunday, dropping their record to 19-62, Drew stated that he has not had any conversations about his future with the team. He added, “we’ve chosen to hold off on such discussions until the end of the season.”

This season, the Cavaliers recorded a 6-35 score on the road and are set to finish with one of the three worst records in the league, alongside Phoenix and New York. They have a 14% chance of winning the upcoming lottery next month. If they win, they could potentially select Zion Williamson from Duke.

Drew took over a chaotic situation in October when the Cavaliers dismissed Tyronn Lue, the sole coach to lead a Cleveland team to a championship in the last 54 years, following a 0-6 start. In the midst of this turmoil, Drew asserted that he sought stability and rejected the label of “acting” coach, stating that he desired certain assurances.

A nine-day standoff, marked by awkwardness, then followed. During this time, the Cavaliers renegotiated Drew’s contract, providing him a raise and a team option for the upcoming season. If the Cavs opt for a different route, Drew will be given a buyout payment.

Once the issue with the contract was settled, Drew started work and hasn’t slowed down since. Despite their record not showing it, the Cavaliers have remained largely competitive, even though they’ve played much of the season without Love, Tristan Thompson, or J.R. Smith. These three were crucial members of the club’s championship team in 2016.

Sexton persevered through a challenging beginning to flourish, and both Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. have seen improvements in their performances.

The journey has been tough, but the soothing presence of Drew has alleviated the pain.

“Before Sunday’s game, Drew shared with his players, ‘We sometimes face challenges that shape our identity. It’s essential to accept both the highs and lows of life. Things won’t always go as planned, but learning to handle tough times, rough patches, and adversity is crucial.'”

The things that strengthen you as a person are the ones that our team has been doing exceptionally well. They’ve managed to uphold professionalism and give their best every night. It’s not a guarantee that we’ll perform well every single night, but we can ensure to put in our maximum effort. Our team has been successful in doing so, and I commend them for their handling of the situation.