INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — John Beilein was out of bed before the sun came up and on his treadmill before 6 a.m. Monday.The oldest, first-time, non-interim coach in NBA history was too excited about his new job with the Cleveland Cavaliers to sleep in."This is great," the 66-year-old Beilein said, surveying the media day scene at Cleveland Clinic Courts. "I'm thrilled to be in this position. College basketball has been so good to me, but I just love this new change in my personal life."I'm not concerned about anything, I'm optimistic. We're going to have this incredible mindset all year long and we're going to represent the Cavaliers' history."Beilein took a leap of faith on May 13, signing a multiyear contract with Cleveland after spending 12 seasons — with two national championship game appearances — at Michigan.He compiled an 829-468 record in 41 years at the college level and is one of 14 coaches to take four Division I schools to the NCAA Tournament (Michigan, West Virginia, Richmond... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — When Darius Garland realized the Cavaliers sent general manager Koby Altman, new coach John Beilein and his entire staff to his private pre-draft workout in Los Angeles, the Vanderbilt guard drew up a personal game plan."I knew I had to kind of put on a show for them," he said.It was spectacular.As the Cavs watched in near disbelief, Garland, whose college career ended after just five games because of a left knee injury, hardly missed a shot for the first several minutes of his session. Everything he hoisted at the rim from 15 feet dropped. Swish.Same from 20 feet. Nothing but net from 25 and Garland eventually stepped even further back — way beyond the 3-point line, where only Steph Curry and a few other NBA shot takers hang out."I was pretty deep," Garland said with a smile.How deep?"He was shooting from back in Nashville and we were in California," Beilein cracked.The Cavs introduced Garland and Belmont forward Dylan Windler, the No. 26 overall pick, two-thirds... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Darius Garland showed the Cavaliers his range from 2,000 miles before they selected him in the NBA draft.The Cavs selected the Vanderbilt point guard with the No. 5 overall pick Thursday night despite him playing in only five games before injuring his left knee. Garland was always on Cleveland's radar, but the team became convinced that he was the right choice during a private workout last week in Los Angeles.The team sent new coach John Beilein and his entire staff to watch Garland. Beilein was floored by the 19-year-old's shooting ability and deep range, joking that Garland "was shooting the ball in Nashville and we were in California."The Cavs intend to play Garland alongside Collin Sexton, their first-round pick last season who had a solid rookie. Beilein said the tandem "will be beautiful together" and should be interchangeable on the floor.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — High on a wall and across the courts from where John Beilein was sitting, the Cavaliers' basketball history stared the new coach in the face.He wants to make it richer."Look at all those banners up there," Beilein said, pointing toward reminders of the 2016 NBA championship, Eastern Conference titles and division crowns won by the Cavs — most of them in the past decade. "It's been done before. Why can't it be done again?"This basketball renaissance man is ready for his next recovery project.Saying he won't use the word "rebuild," Beilein was introduced Tuesday by the Cavs, whose surprising choice of the 66-year-old was met with skepticism only by those who haven't crossed paths with him over his more than four decades as a coach.Cleveland's expansive search ended last week with someone who has won at every level in college — most recently during a 12-year run at Michigan — and will now see if his team-first, family-oriented style can work in the pros."He's all... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — High on a wall and across the courts from where John Beilein was sitting, the Cavaliers' basketball history stared the new coach in the face.He wants to make it richer."Look at all those banners up there," Beilein said, pointing toward reminders of the 2016 NBA championship, Eastern Conference titles and division crowns won by the Cavs — most of them in the past decade. "It's been done before. Why can't it be done again?"This basketball renaissance man is ready for his next recovery project.Saying he won't use the word "rebuild," Beilein was introduced Tuesday by the Cavs, whose surprising choice of the 66-year-old was met with skepticism only by those who haven't crossed paths with him over more than four decades as a coach.Cleveland's expansive search ended last week with someone who has won at every level in college — most recently during a 12-year run at Michigan — and will now see if his team-first, family-oriented style can work in the pros."He's all the... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Whether it was the right time to leave Michigan for the Cleveland Cavaliers, John Beilein wasn't sure.One thing he had no doubt about was this: It was the right move to make.Beilein decided it was time to jump to the NBA and see if he can win on basketball's biggest stage after molding winners at the college level for 41 years."There's never a good time to leave," he said following the draft lottery in Chicago on Tuesday. "You can make a couple choices. You can leave too early or you can leave too late. You never know when to leave. This was an opportunity that has so much potential it was too difficult to pass up. It was the right thing to do."Beilein accepted a big challenge on Monday when he took the Cavaliers' job after 12 seasons at Michigan.The offensive whiz who re-established the Wolverines as national championship contenders will try to orchestrate a similar turnaround in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers won just 19 games in a stormy season following LeBron James'... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — John Beilein has spent a coaching lifetime taking ordinary programs and turning them into consistent winning ones.All in college.He's getting his NBA shot.The Cavaliers ended a monthlong search Monday by hiring Beilein, a 66-year-old offensive mastermind who made Michigan a perennial powerhouse and now takes over a rebuilding project in Cleveland. Beilein got a five-year deal with the Cavs, who believe he can make the successful leap from campus.Beilein's signing is somewhat surprising given his age, lack of pro experience and because the Cavs, who have had six previous coaches since 2009, had been speaking almost exclusively with younger NBA assistants during their interview process.Beilein isn't the safest pick or the sexiest, but Cavs general manager Koby Altman said he precisely fits the coaching profile he wanted."We interviewed several strong and talented candidates who, no doubt, will get an opportunity to become an NBA head coach somewhere down the line," Altman... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers went back to college to get a coach.John Beilein has left Michigan following a successful 12-year run and will take his shot in the NBA, signing a five-year contract with Cleveland on Monday.The 66-year-old Beilein wasn't thought to be on the team's radar, but the Cavs are confident he's the right choice to continue their rebuild and get them back to relevance following a 19-63 season."John is one of the most accomplished and innovative basketball minds and leaders in the entire game," Cavs general manager Koby Altman said in a statement. "He has a unique ability to create an outstanding culture that will promote the development of young players and provide a solid structure to the entire program; not to mention the fact that John Beilein wins everywhere he goes."We are excited coach Beilein is joining our organization as we continue to build the foundation that any enterprise needs to be successful and competitive year in and year out."The deal with Beilein... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers went back to college to get a coach.Cleveland has signed Michigan's John Beilein to a five-year contract, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday. The deal came together quickly in the past 24 hours and was finalized Sunday after the Cavs had spent the weekend in Denver interviewing several NBA assistants.The people spoke to The AP condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the hire.The 66-year-old Beilein does not have pro experience but he's long been regarded as one of college hoops' best minds. He guided Michigan to two Final Fours in the past seven years and has developed several top players.His hiring is a bit of a surprise since it was expected the Cavs would hire a younger coach for their growing team. Cleveland is expected to surround Beilein with an experienced staff.The Cavs were able to lure Beilein away from Michigan, where he was the winningest coach in school history with a 278-150 record in... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers went back to college to get a coach.Cleveland has signed Michigan's John Beilein to a five-year contract, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday. The deal came together quickly in the past 24 hours and was finalized Sunday after the Cavs had spent the weekend in Denver interviewing several NBA assistants.The people spoke to The AP condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the hire.The 66-year-old Beilein does not have pro experience but he's long regarded as one of college hoops' best minds. He guided Michigan to two Final Fours in the past seven years and has developed several top players.Beilein is the winningest coach in Michigan history with a 278-150 record in 12 seasons. He had talks with the Detroit Pistons last year when they were in the market for a new coach, but he said he was never offered that job.Beilein tweeted his thanks Monday to Michigan's players and fans.The Cavs are rebuilding following... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers' next coach will inherit a better situation than the one Larry Drew got handed.Drew and the Cavs parted ways Thursday after a challenging, 19-win season that followed LeBron James leaving for Los Angeles and included a rash of injuries to a young roster.Although expected, Drew's departure creates more work for a franchise that will sit out the NBA playoffs this season following a four-year run in the Finals with James.The 61-year-old Drew met with general manager Koby Altman, and the two decided it was best if they went in separate directions. Altman said in a release that Drew "respectfully declined to participate in the search process and will not be returning to coach the Cavaliers."The Cavs tied for the league's second-worst record with Phoenix, but Drew kept his team playing hard until the end. He received praise from many of his players, including All-Star forward Kevin Love, who was limited to just 22 games following toe surgery."We have great respect... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — After handing out sneakers, signed balls and other gifts to fans, the Cleveland Cavaliers gathered one last time after the fourth-worst season in franchise history ended and took photos with adored teammate Channing Frye, whose retirement triggered a three-day celebration.Losing usually doesn't look like this.There were smiles and hugs as a group that never splintered during a taxing season that ended two months earlier than the previous four bonded as brothers. Later, in a pin-drop quiet locker room, coach Larry Drew urged the Cavaliers to reflect and challenged each "to come back a different player."Then, Drew, who doesn't know if he himself will be back, offered thanks."I understand how difficult the season was with everything that took place," said Drew, who took over seven games in following Tyronn Lue's firing. "But they stayed professional and they kept working hard, and I just wanted to let them know how much I appreciated it."And with that, an offseason of uncertainty... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Larry Drew survived one of his most challenging seasons as a coach. He's not sure he wants another one — or if he'll even get it.Before Cleveland's season finale against Charlotte on Tuesday night, Drew said "let's hope not" when asked if it would be last game as the Cavs coach. The 61-year-old Drew took over seven games into the season after Tyronn Lue was fired, and led the Cavs through a season loaded with losses and injuries to top players.Drew intends meet soon with general manager Koby Altman to discuss his future. The two have not scheduled a meeting.Asked if he wanted to come back as coach, Drew gave a vague answer."I really don't want to get into that part of it right now," said while standing in a hallway inside newly named Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. "What I really want to do is just finish this game tonight and Koby and I will sit down and talk about it. We're going to give it a few days and we'll sit down and discuss it."Drew, who joined the Cavs as an associate... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Larry Drew did his best coaching the Cavaliers through a troubling season, but doesn't know if it was enough to keep his job.Before the season finale on Tuesday night, Drew said "let's hope not" when asked if it was last game as Cleveland's coach. The 61-year-old Drew took over seven games into the season after Tyronn Lue was fired, and led the Cavs through a season filled with injuries and losses.Drew said he plans to meet with general manager Koby Altman in a few days to discuss his future. The two have not scheduled a meeting.The Cavs gave Drew a raise when he replaced Lue and the team has an option on the coach for next season.Drew feels proud that he was able to develop several of Cleveland's young players, including rookie point guard Collin Sexton."I can clearly say that I checked the boxes of what I had to accomplish," Drew said. "I'm comfortable with what took place."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Larry Drew guided the Cavaliers through a stormy season sprinkled with injuries, losing streaks and NBA lottery dreams.The 61-year-old coach juggled a revolving roster, pushed his young team while keeping things fun and focused and had a hand in rookie guard Collin Sexton's startling development.Drew earned widespread respect from players and peers.However, he might not get another season.On Sunday, Drew said he has had no conversations with Cleveland's front office about his future, and there's a strong sense around the team that he will coach his final game Tuesday, when the Cavaliers conclude their season against the Charlotte Hornets, who need to beat Cleveland and Orlando for any chance at the postseason.The Cavaliers' hopes — and their four-year streak in the Finals — ended last July, the moment LeBron James chose Los Angeles for his next act.But while Drew is likely nearing a finish with the Cavs, the appreciation for him remains."He did a fantastic job, especially... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers coach Larry Drew said he has not spoken with the club's front office about his future with the team.Drew, who became Cleveland's coach when Tyronn Lue was fired in October after six games, said before Sunday's game against San Antonio that the sides decided to wait until the season ends before discussing what's next. Cleveland hosts Charlotte in its season finale on Tuesday.Drew has done a commendable job for the Cavaliers, who have dealt with injuries all season while rebuilding. Rookie guard Collin Sexton has steadily improved and the team has played with energy and been competitive despite a young and ever-changing roster.When he was promoted, Drew said he didn't want to be an interim coach and fought the team for a pay raise. He got a new deal, which includes a team option for the 2019-20 season.If the Cavaliers chose not to retain him, Drew will receive a buyout payment.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers coach Larry Drew said he has not spoken with the club's front office about his future with the team.Drew, who became Cleveland's coach when Tyronn Lue was fired in October after six games, said before Sunday's game against San Antonio that the sides decided to wait until the season ends before discussing what's next. Cleveland hosts Charlotte in its season finale on Tuesday.Drew has done a commendable job for the Cavaliers, who have dealt with injuries all season while rebuilding. Rookie guard Collin Sexton has steadily improved and the team has played with energy and been competitive despite a young and ever-changing roster.When he was promoted, Drew said he didn't want to be an interim coach and fought the team for a pay raise. He got a new deal, which includes a team option for the 2019-20 season.If the Cavaliers chose not to retain him, Drew will receive a buyout payment.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports