All it takes to become one of the highest-paid coaches in the league after six months on the job is to win your team its first title in franchise history.
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Lue never signed a head coaching contract when he took over for the fired David Blatt in January. He guided the team to its second straight NBA Finals, and then led Cleveland’s massive upset over the 73-win Golden State Warriors for the title. They also became more aggressive defensively. “Blatt signed a four-year deal worth as much as $20 million a year later, although Blatt”s $20 million figure included a number of incentives.
The Cavaliers and Lue had begun negotiations soon after the NBA Finals.
“Be honest”, Lue said during the playoffs when asked about his philosophy for dealing with players.
Cleveland’s easygoing coach has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Cavaliers, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press. Lebron James recognized him as the “greatest coach in the world”. He won two NBA Championships while with the Lakes in 2000 and 2001.
Host Chris Manning (@cwmwrites) is joined by FtS and A Wolf Among Wolves writer William Bohl (@BreakTheHuddle) to talk about Lue’s extension, his fit with the Cavs and what his value is as an National Basketball Association coach.
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Guard J.R. Smith is also a free agent. As it stands, Lue will be making $7 million per year, while Dan Gilbert is still paying Mike Brown from his firing in the summer of 2014.
