INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) – Cavaliers coach David Blatt says he has developed a bond with superstar LeBron James that might be “more than what meets the eye.”
The Blatt-James relationship has been under scrutiny all season, and Blatt said Thursday the chance to coach the four-time MVP has been a fantastic experience that he looks forward to continuing.
General manager David Griffin has tired of a negative narrative surrounding Blatt, who guided the Cavs to the NBA Finals in his first season. Cleveland, which lost All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to injuries in the playoffs, lost in six games to Golden State.
Griffin expects both James and Love to opt out of their contracts and become free agents, but believes both will return.
The Cavs will also attempt to re-sign forward Tristan Thompson and will extend qualifying offers to restricted free agents Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova.