The Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers have fired head coach David Blatt and replaced him with associate head coach Tyronn Lue, according to multiple sources, including ESPN.
Following the announcement of Blatt's dismissal, it was revealed the team signed Lue to a multi-year extension.
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Cleveland is 30-11 this year, but opted to make a change amid rumors that Blatt had lost the locker room. The Cavaliers were blown out, 132-98, in an NBA Finals rematch against the Warriors on Monday, a defeat that obviously didn't sit well with owner Dan Gilbert.
The Cavaliers won their following two games, against the Nets and Clippers, but Blatt's fate was already sealed. Though Blatt didn't have much support from his players in the locker room, LeBron James wasn't consulted about his firing prior to the decision being made, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
LeBron James was informed of the decision to fire David Blatt today, he was not consulted on decision sources said
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) January 22, 2016
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James, however, was reportedly pushing for Lue to become Blatt's successor.
Since last season, LeBron James and his agent Rich Paul have been strong advocates of Lue becoming head coach, league sources tell Yahoo. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) January 22, 2016
Blatt finishes his first head coaching gig with an 83-40 record in two seasons with the Cavs, and his .675 winning percentage is the best in franchise history. He was 14-6 in the playoffs, which included the six-game loss to the Warriors in the Finals.
The Tyronn Lue Era begins Saturday when the Cavaliers play host to the Bulls at the Quicken Loans Arena.
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