The Cleveland Cavaliers have fired coach Tyronn Lue after the team got off to an 0-6 start, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
After firing Lue, the Cavaliers are planning to promote Larry Drew to interim coach, sources told Wojnarowski.
The Athletic first reported Lue’s dismissal.
Lue, 41, had a 128-83 record in three-plus seasons with Cleveland. The Cavs went to the Eastern Conference Finals the past two seasons and won the NBA championship in 2015-16.
The Cavaliers lost LeBron James to free agency this offseason, the second time that the superstar has left Cleveland. The first time the Cavaliers went from 61 wins with James in 2009-10 to 19 wins without him the next season.
Lue still owed roughly $20 million on the contract he signed in 2016 after the team won the title.
Sources told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that Lue recently had a disagreement with general manager Koby Altman over playing veterans. Altman preferred that Kyle Korver and JR Smith be taken out of the rotation to give time to younger players. After one game in which they didn’t play, Lue put both back in the rotation without consulting Altman.
Owner Dan Gilbert has also encouraged more playing time for rookie Collin Sexton, sources said. He is averaging just 23.5 minutes per game.