Cavs have coach they need

team with five double-figure scorers to a 25-6 record and the Big 8 regular-season title.

The Tigers beat San Jose State and Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament before losing to LSU in the Sweet 16.

Selected by the Pistons with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 1980 NBA Draft, Drew would play for the Pistons, Sacramento and Kansas City Kings, Clippers and Lakers.

The track of his 10 seasons in the NBA was solid rather than spectacular, the same as at Missouri. He finished with averages of 11.4 points and 5.2 assists.

The soft-spoken native of Kansas City, Kansas was at his best in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons for the Kings, averaging 20-1 points/8.1 assists and 16.1 points/7.8 assists, respectively.

He retired as a player after the 1990-91 season and embarked on an 18year run as an NBA assistant coach. He had stints with the Lakers, Pistons, Wizards, Nets and Hawks.

In 2010, at 52, Drew made his NBA headcoaching debut with the Hawks. His teams went 128-102 in three seasons and made the playoffs each season. Still, the Hawks elected not to renew his contract after the 2012-13 season and hired Mike Budenholzer.

Drew got the head coaching job in Milwaukee in 2013. He lasted only one season, fired after the injury-ravaged Bucks finished 15-67 and swung a trade with New Jersey for Nets coach Jason Kidd.

Then came the move to Cleveland.

Drew has paid his dues and then some in the NBA. He does not have an incandescent personality. But he knows this league inside and out. More important, he has a feel for this Cavs team and the respect of its players.

Retaining the services of Larry Donnell Drew wouldn’t be a sexy hire for the Cavs, but it would be the right hire.