The Cleveland Cavaliers began their NBA championship season with David Blatt as their head coach, but then made the risky move of replacing him mid-season with Tyronn Lue. That move paid off with an NBA Finals victory over the historic Golden State Warriors, and now they are rewarding Lue. The two sides agreed to a five-year contract extension on Monday night, reportedly worth $35 million. The first four years of the deal are fully guaranteed.
Lue never signed a new deal when receiving his promotion from associate head coach. He would go on to lead the team to a 27-14 record in the second half after taking over in January.
The former teammate of LeBron James was the highest-paid assistant in the league under Blatt. The team explained this move by stating "his calm, confident approach was invaluable as we found our way to success." Lue expressed his excitement in the new deal when he said "the opportunity to continue coaching the Cavaliers and this very special group of players is tremendous."
Elsewhere, while most free agents have found a new home, some are still looking to find the right fit, including Dion Waiters, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Miami Heat. The deal is worth $6 million and could be the first step in the Heat's tough process to move on past Dwayne Wade. The contract also includes a player option for the second year, and Waiters could receive a bonus if he is traded.
As a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Waiters played a key role in their playoff-series victories over the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. He began the summer as a restricted free agent. The team rescinded a qualifying offer after losing Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors.
One player who does not plan on testing the free agent market any time soon is C.J. McCollum, who received a four-year max extension from the Portland Trail Blazers, worth $106 million. The deal does not include a player option and will not begin until the 2017-18 season. The 24-year-old has spent three seasons in Portland, with his best one coming this past year, when he won the NBA's Most Improved Player award.
McCollum earned this award by averaging 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 80 games. This was also his first full season as a starter. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft lead the Blazers to a playoff appearance. They would go on to make the most of it, taking down the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, and playing the Golden State Warriors tough in a second-round defeat.
Lue never signed a new deal when receiving his promotion from associate head coach. He would go on to lead the team to a 27-14 record in the second half after taking over in January.
The former teammate of LeBron James was the highest-paid assistant in the league under Blatt. The team explained this move by stating "his calm, confident approach was invaluable as we found our way to success." Lue expressed his excitement in the new deal when he said "the opportunity to continue coaching the Cavaliers and this very special group of players is tremendous."
Elsewhere, while most free agents have found a new home, some are still looking to find the right fit, including Dion Waiters, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Miami Heat. The deal is worth $6 million and could be the first step in the Heat's tough process to move on past Dwayne Wade. The contract also includes a player option for the second year, and Waiters could receive a bonus if he is traded.
As a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Waiters played a key role in their playoff-series victories over the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. He began the summer as a restricted free agent. The team rescinded a qualifying offer after losing Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors.
One player who does not plan on testing the free agent market any time soon is C.J. McCollum, who received a four-year max extension from the Portland Trail Blazers, worth $106 million. The deal does not include a player option and will not begin until the 2017-18 season. The 24-year-old has spent three seasons in Portland, with his best one coming this past year, when he won the NBA's Most Improved Player award.
McCollum earned this award by averaging 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 80 games. This was also his first full season as a starter. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft lead the Blazers to a playoff appearance. They would go on to make the most of it, taking down the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, and playing the Golden State Warriors tough in a second-round defeat.
