Odds Say Larry Drew Will Not Coach the Cavaliers in 2019-20
- Tyronn Lue has been fired following the Cavaliers’ dismal 0-6 start
- Larry Drew has since taken over as interim coach
- The former Atlanta Hawks bench boss led Cleveland to an 8-1 record in Lue’s absence last season
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ dismal start finally claimed its first casualty over the weekend, with the axe falling on head coach Tyronn Lue after the team opened the NBA season with six straight losses.
Will Larry Drew be Head Coach of the Cavaliers in 2019-20?
| Will Larry Drew be Head Coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019-20? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +150 |
| No | -200 |
While assistant coach Larry Drew has been promoted to interim bench boss, at least temporarily, he remains a longshot to hold the head coaching reins in Cleveland next season, sporting +150 odds.
Lue enjoyed early success after taking over coaching duties in Cleveland midway through the 2015-16 NBA season. Blessed with an all-star lineup led by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers marched to the top of the Eastern Conference standings and their first-ever NBA title, and subsequently led the team to the NBA Finals in each of the past two seasons.
LeBron, current Cavs speak out on Tyronn Lue firing. MORE @ https://t.co/vNmbUllXXr pic.twitter.com/0YXaWX5qOO
— BarDown (@BarDown) October 28, 2018
Cavaliers Outclassed in Early Days of Post-LeBron Era
With James departing for Los Angeles during the offseason, the Cavaliers have been outclassed in the early going of the current campaign, falling to defeat by an average margin of 12.8 points per game during their season-opening 0-6 SU, capped by a 119-107 loss to Indiana on Saturday as 7-point home underdogs.
#Cavs Larry Drew: “I’m not the interim coach. I’m the voice right now. As I’m sure you know, there is no agreement right now.
“Me and my agent have been in talks with organization about restructuring my contract. No decision has been made and I don’t know if one will.”
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) October 29, 2018
Fortunately for soon-suffering Cavs fans, Drew brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Cleveland bench. The 60-year-old took the Hawks to the playoffs in each of his three years in Atlanta, and guided the Cavaliers to a solid 8-1 SU record last season while Lue was absent for health reasons. However, the title “interim coach” reportedly doesn’t sit well with Drew, who characterized his new role with the Cavaliers as “the voice” of the team, which he would run like a “substitute teacher”.
Cavs GM Altman Tight-Lipped on Head Coaching Plans
Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman has said little indicate to that Drew will be offered the permanent head coaching job anytime soon. With the Cavaliers tumbling to a lengthy +12000 bet to claim a fifth straight Central Division title, as well as massive +50000 longshots on the NBA championship odds, Altman is positioned to bide his time before making a decision on a new bench boss.
Koby Altman Addresses the Media https://t.co/Eazgd8p4ds via @cavs
— Joseph O'Leary (@olearyjoe1) October 29, 2018
Lengthy List of Available Coaching Candidates
In addition to Drew, Altman could also draw his next head coach from a lengthy list of qualified candidates. Rick Pitino has been candid about his desire to return to the NBA after seeing his 16-year tenure as Louisville Cardinals coach end last year.
Rick Pitino has been candid about his desire to return to the NBA after seeing his 16-year tenure as Louisville Cardinals coach end last year.
The name of former Houston Rockets bench boss Jeff Van Gundy is regularly mentioned as a candidate when NBA teams embark on searches for a new boss, while coaches turned television analysts Mark Jackson and Kevin McHale were reportedly open to discussing open coaching positions with needy NBA clubs during the offseason.
Success this Season Likely to Determine Drew’s Fate
But while Altman has remained tight-lipped on his long-term coaching plans, how the Cavaliers perform under Drew will likely be the determining factor in whom he hires as the team’s next head coach.
Ty Lue lost his job because Dan Gilbert’s Cavaliers, for some reason, thought they could compete even without LeBron James.https://t.co/IVd2AYdVmH
— SB Nation NBA (Click the pic to read 🔽) (@SBNationNBA) October 29, 2018
However, the Cavaliers’ slow start has been further complicated by an injury that may sideline Kevin Love for over a month, dimming hopes of a fifth straight trip to the playoffs, and leaving Drew with the difficult task of defying the oddsmakers, who peg him as a short -200 bet to not be coaching in Cleveland next season.
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
