Tyronn

Lue

Tyronn Lue is regarded as one of the premier head coaches in basketball, consistently fielding a competitive Clippers squad despite the myriad of injuries each season. There had been rumors of him possibly leaving L.A. to take the Suns job however that seems null and void now. Lue has one more guaranteed year on his contract, with a team option for 2024/25.

''I have no gripes about the way he’s played,’' said Woodson. He’s done everything we asked of him. He’s a solid point guard in this league.’' If the Hawks do sign Lue to a long-term deal, he could find himself right back in a reserve role if they draft point guard Chris Paul this summer.

Lue joins four players in league protocols. The Clippers also have other injuries and are incredibly thin. They play in Brooklyn on Saturday without Paul George, Ivica Zubac, and now Lue.

“I think I’m trying to play with more pace, trying to get our guys to push the ball, push the tempo. Because we were like, I guess, in the bottom five of the league in pace,” said Lue, whose Clippers last year ranked 28th in pace, ahead of only Miami and New York. “We gotta be better with that.” The Clippers will be starting two point guards with Reggie Jackson and Eric Bledsoe, the latter of which, Lue said will have a huge role in pushing the ball up the floor as he has done in years past. Bledsoe has played on a team that finished top 10 in pace in seven of the last eight seasons and will try to make it eight of nine this season with the Clippers.

When reporter Law Murray asked about the starting lineup underperforming, Lue relied, "[F]unny what you said about the starting lineup. We’re like, yeah, something needs to be done.” It’s unclear which direction Lue might go with any changes, though Murray speculates that Rajon Rondo may be poised to start in a must-win road game at Dallas.

Both coaches were long expected to join Tyronn Lue’s bench, continuing the overhaul that started with Doc Rivers’ firing. As well as adding the leadership of Billups (himself a head coach candidate this offseason), the Clips are hoping to rekindle the coaching chemistry between Lue and Drew. Those two shared five years with the Cavs from 2014-19, a stretch that included the championship in 2016.

Lue has been one of the most popular names on the NBA head coaching carousel and with good reason, given the success he enjoyed while in Cleveland. And after one season with the Clippers he’ll be moving over into the head coach’s chair, replacing Doc Rivers. We may also know at least one member of Lue’s coaching staff, as Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Chauncey Billups is expected to be his lead assistant. Billups, who has also interviewed for head coaching jobs this offseason, was the color commentator for Clippers broadcasts this season.

One day after it was reported by ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that Lue was “gaining momentum” in the Rockets’ search for a new head coach, news drops that he may not have to leave the Clippers to get back into the top seat. Based upon these reports, it appears highly unlikely that Lue will be working as an assistant coach next season. Lue has also interviewed with the Pelicans, but a partnership there appears to be a long shot.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said recently that Tyronn Lue, who met with the Rockets on Monday, has been “gaining momentum,” and it appears to be down to either JVG or Lue. No matter which guy lands the job, they’ll inherit an ultra-small-ball lineup with very little financial wiggle-room to pivot to a different style of play.

Previous reports suggested that Jeff Van Gundy is also a serious candidate for the position, and it’s unclear if Lue has taken the pole position or simply remains one of the top two possibilities. Lue is almost certain to be a head coach somewhere next year, though, as he’s also interviewed with the Pelicans and Clippers.