CLEVELAND -- Moments following one of the worst losses in franchise history, LeBron James was asked if he was concerned about Tyronn Lue's status as the Cleveland Cavaliers' head coach.
Choosing his words carefully, the Cavs megastar offered an endorsement of Lue, before acknowledging that not even he could predict his franchise's next move.
"I would hope not, but I really don't know," James said. "I don't know what's going to happen with our team. I have no idea what conversations have been going on."
James isn't alone.
With Cleveland having lost six of its last eight games and 10 of its last 14, the Cavs very much appear to be a team in limbo. Trade rumors have appeared even more quickly than they usually do this time of year. But if the Cavs aren't willing -- or are unable -- to make a meaningful move in the trade market, could a change at head coach provide the shakeup this team appears to so desperately need?
At this point, such talk appears to be premature -- although Lue doesn't seem to be doing himself any favors by insisting the Cavs stick with their current starting lineup. Nevertheless, Lue is less than two years removed from having helped coach Cleveland to a championship and has amassed a 105-63 record since taking over as the team's head coach in January 2016.
Moreover, Lue is less than two years into a five-year contract -- not that that has stopped Dan Gilbert from pulling the plug on his head coaches before. But with prominent players having anonymously told multiple outlets they believed the team's issues were a matter of personnel, firing a players-friendly head coach like Lue possesses the potential to do more harm than good.
After all, firing Lue won't add a rim protector to the Cleveland roster, nor would it make the oldest roster in the NBA any younger. It's also worth mentioning that there's not an obvious replacement for Lue readily available on the Cavs' staff.
And yet for all the reasons the Cavs shouldn't fire Lue, it remains clear something needs to change. For now, that likely doesn't include the head coach. But as James' answer shows, nothing seems for sure.
