The dawn of a new era is breaking for the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James has left the team, opting to join the Los Angeles Lakers over the summer. Now, with Kevin Love as their front-man and a plethora of young prospects, the Cavs will look to make it to the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season. And though the odds are stacked against them, head coach Tyronn Lue says there will be “no tanking” in Cleveland.
In August, Lue noted that he and his staff are excited for this new opportunity. Losing LeBron is obviously a big deal, but Lue knows that and is still ready to compete.
“Of course I would love to have LeBron James, but now that he’s gone it’s going to be a new challenge,” Lue told the Boston Globe in August. “I think me and my coaching staff, we’re up for it. It’s going to be different, a lot of young guys that we can try to teach and mold them how you want them to be.”
The Cavs finished the 2017-18 regular season with an overall record of 50-32, which landed the team a No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. In the end, though, Cleveland was swept by the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.
In many ways, the coming season will be a testament to the Cavs’ resolve.
Lue is going to try to coach these guys up and return them to the playoffs despite the absence of LeBron.