NBA: LeBron has 29 games left to test-drive the new-look Cavaliers
ATLANTA— Tyronn Lue took over as coach of the Cavaliers after 41 games during the 2015-16 season and still led the team to Cleveland’s first major sports championship in 52 years.
Being thrust into the fire then may help Lue now. The four players acquired at Thursday’s trade deadline were expected to join the Cavs late Friday night in Atlanta. Barring any failed physicals, they will likely participate in Saturday’s practice before the Cavs fly to Boston.
The Cavs were six men short for Friday’s game against the Hawks after the departures of Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and Jae Crowder. Lue planned to start LeBron James, rookie Cedi Osman, J.R. Smith, former Toronto Raptor Jose Calderon and Tristan Thompson, a Brampton product.
There is much to do to integrate ex-Lakers centre/forward Larry Nance Jr. and guard Jordan Clarkson, former Kings point guard George Hill and ex-Jazz guard Rodney Hood. Only 29 games remain in the regular season and the Cavs might be without forward Kevin Love for another month.
“The front office made changes that they felt best fit this franchise, and it’s time to go to work,” James said before shootaround at Philips Arena. “It is what it is. It’s not like, ‘Do we have enough time?’ It’s the time that we have, so let’s make the most of it.”
During his 15 years in the league, James had held pretraining camp mini-camps in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Miami. He said he considers it “his job” to get his new teammates up to speed.
“That’s my job to get these guys integrated as fast as possible,” James said. “I know the coaching staff and T-Lue is going to do it as well, but it’s my job to get these guys on the same page with us with what we want to accomplish, what we want to do. I look forward to getting them here.”
Lue huddled on the flight to Atlanta with his coaching staff discussing the starting lineup and rotations.
“There are going to be some peaks and valleys, but I’ve liked what we’ve done,” Lue said. “I just know we’ll start playing good basketball at the right time when it matters going into the playoffs. I’m excited about the young guys we have. Putting it all together is going to be fun and it’s going to be a good ride.”
James said it didn’t take him long to see how the four newcomers will help the Cavs. All are 25 years old except for Hill, 31.
“But obviously you don’t want to fast-track it. You look at Jordan and Larry, they’ve been in the same system for a long time with the Lakers and Rodney’s been in Utah for his whole career,” James said. “I think it will be a lot easier for George because he’s much more of a veteran, he’s been around the block. Being a point guard, you’ve seen every set, you kind of know what’s going on. I think it will be a lot easier transition for him. But all four of them are pretty smart guys, we should be fine.”
James said he found out about the trades around noon when he walked into Cleveland Clinic Courts and saw his close friend Wade, who told him that Thomas had been dealt to the Lakers.
“He asked me did I see what happened. And he thought I was messing around when I told him I didn’t,” James said. “He said there was a trade that happened on our team and he possibly could be headed out as well.” Lue said he was surprised as well. “I started getting lots of texts and phone calls about trades being made,” Lue said. “It was like, ‘Oh, my God, that trade’ and ‘Oh, my God, something else.’ It was a tough day. Anytime you trade some guys who have been here and try to help you win, it’s always a sad day. That’s the toughest part about this business. Guys you get used to being around and then you look up and they are gone.”
For James, among those leaving were his best friend Wade, with whom he played for four seasons and won two championships in Miami, and Shumpert and Frye, part of the 2016 championship team.
“It’s always tough when you lose teammates. The trade deadline is always a difficult time for everybody,” James said. “Obviously, D-Wade, I’ve been teammates with him before. And then the small little doses that I was able to play with Jae and IT, I wish it could have been better than it was. I definitely wish all six guys, including D-Rose, the best.”