CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers want Larry Drew to be their "voice." They aren't listening to him.
Drew said Tuesday he's "very disappointed" the Cavs have not yet restructured his contract. The team's top assistant, Drew has been asked to fill in as head coach on an interim basis after Tyronn Lue was fired on Sunday amid a 0-6 start.
Drew asked for guarantees if he's going to take over the rebuilding team. So far, the Cavaliers haven't given him any.
"There are no updates, which I'm very disappointed about," he said. "But as I told them, I'm going to be professional and I'm going to do my job. It's been close to 72 hours. My focus right now is to get this team ready for tonight's game and I think our guys are ready."
Later, the Cavaliers ended their six-game losing streak to start the season by beating the Atlanta Hawks 136-114 in their first game since Lue was fired. Rodney Hood scored a season-high 26 points, and Cedi Osman added 20. The Cavs improved to 10-1 in the past two years under Drew, who filled in last season while Lue battled health issues.
On Monday, general manager Koby Altman said he fired Lue because the team needed a new "voice." He referred to Drew as the club's interim coach. But Drew made it clear he doesn't want that title without some assurances going forward.
Drew's agent has been negotiating with the Cavs since Sunday. Drew said they've been told the team could hire a full-time replacement, and if that's what happens, the 60-year-old will remain as an assistant.
"We're actually kind of just weighing our options on that," Drew said. "I really hope that we can get something resolved, but moving forward, I know there is a possibility that it may not be resolved. I would never quit. I won't do that. As I said, I remain professional and will continue to do my job.
"I was told that there could be a possibility of them just bringing in somebody else to finish out the year and then I can move back into my original position as an associate head coach."
