Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue is planning to rejoin the team as an observer against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, league sources told ESPN.
Lue will not coach the game, sources told ESPN. The plan is for him to hopefully ease his way back into a full-time coaching role over the Cavs' four-game homestand that extends until Thursday, sources said.
This will be the first time that Lue is expected to address the team since leaving the Cavaliers on March 19 because of medical and rest issues. During his absence, Lue has been using a chef to improve his diet and has been on a steady exercise plan.
Lue had been dealing with chest pains and other serious symptoms, including coughing up blood, compounded by a loss of sleep for the majority of the season.
LeBron James said it was "absolutely" encouraging to hear Lue's plans to observe the team and revealed he had been in contact with his coach during the Cavs' recent road trip.
"We're starting to get full, both from a coach's perspective and a player's perspective, so it's definitely encouraging for sure," James said at shootaround Friday morning.
Assistant Larry Drew has been serving as the interim coach during Lue's absence, and Cleveland has gone 5-1 during that span.
The Cavaliers are still unsure if Kevin Love will return for Friday's game, as he is still in the concussion protocol and is considered questionable. It will depend on how he responds after he participated in shootaround Friday morning.
JR Smith missed shootaround with an illness and is also considered questionable. Kyle Korver is back with the team after the death of his brother, but he is being held out with a sore right foot.
The Cavaliers are 45-30 and third in the Eastern Conference standings.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
Lue will not coach the game, sources told ESPN. The plan is for him to hopefully ease his way back into a full-time coaching role over the Cavs' four-game homestand that extends until Thursday, sources said.
This will be the first time that Lue is expected to address the team since leaving the Cavaliers on March 19 because of medical and rest issues. During his absence, Lue has been using a chef to improve his diet and has been on a steady exercise plan.
Lue had been dealing with chest pains and other serious symptoms, including coughing up blood, compounded by a loss of sleep for the majority of the season.
LeBron James said it was "absolutely" encouraging to hear Lue's plans to observe the team and revealed he had been in contact with his coach during the Cavs' recent road trip.
"We're starting to get full, both from a coach's perspective and a player's perspective, so it's definitely encouraging for sure," James said at shootaround Friday morning.
Assistant Larry Drew has been serving as the interim coach during Lue's absence, and Cleveland has gone 5-1 during that span.
The Cavaliers are still unsure if Kevin Love will return for Friday's game, as he is still in the concussion protocol and is considered questionable. It will depend on how he responds after he participated in shootaround Friday morning.
JR Smith missed shootaround with an illness and is also considered questionable. Kyle Korver is back with the team after the death of his brother, but he is being held out with a sore right foot.
The Cavaliers are 45-30 and third in the Eastern Conference standings.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
