Cavaliers fire embattled coach Blatt
The Cleveland Cavaliers fired coach David Blatt on Friday despite the team possessing a 30-11 record at the season’s halfway point.
Tyronn Lue is being promoted to head coach, according to published reports.
Blatt led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in his first season as coach before falling to the Golden State Warriors.
Another game against Golden State — a humbling 132-98 loss on Monday — apparently fast-forwarded the decision to make a coaching move.
Forward LeBron James hasn’t been a supporter of Blatt from the outset and team brass is aware of his sentiments. James has a strong relationship with Lue and often consults with him on strategy during games.
There have also been published reports citing dwindling support of Blatt in the locker room.
Blatt had an 83-40 regular-season record as coach of the Cavaliers.
Kerr returns to coach Warriors
Steve Kerr returned to the Golden State Warriors on Friday and plans to be on the bench in his role as head coach when the team hosts the Indiana Pacers.
Kerr announced an indefinite leave of absence due to a slow recovery from back surgery and handed the team over to assistant coach Luke Walton for the first 43 games of the regular season. The Warriors entered Friday’s game with a 39-4 record, on pace to break the all-time wins record of 72 by the Chicago Bulls.
Walton went 19-0 in the first month of the season and the Warriors opened with a record-setting 24-0 start before losing their first game at Milwaukee. All of the wins and losses are credited to Kerr.
Kerr posted a 67-15 record and the Warriors won the NBA title last year in Kerr’s debut season.
49ers fire defensive coordinator Mangini
New San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly fired defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, according to published reports on Friday.
The 49ers struggled on defense last season and Kelly has chosen to go in a different direction. Mangini interviewed with Kelly last week but apparently Kelly didn’t view him as a good fit.
San Francisco interviewed Houston Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel earlier this week and Vrabel turned down the defensive coordinator post to stick with the Texans.
The 49ers reportedly have offered the offensive coordinator position to Curtis Modkins, who is the Detroit Lions’ run game coordinator.
San Francisco also reportedly has hired Derius Swinton as special teams coordinator. Swinton was a special teams assistant with the Chicago Bears.
Mets offer three-year deal to Cespedes
The New York Mets have reportedly offered a three-year contract in their bid to keep outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
According to ESPN, the three-year deal includes an opt-out clause after one season. That would allow Cespedes an opportunity to test the free-agent market again next season.
Cespedes is currently a free agent and hasn’t land the long-term, big-money deal he was seeking. He was reportedly after a six-year contract.
The Washington Nationals are believed to have offered Cespedes a five-year contract.
Cespedes batted .291 with 35 homers and 105 RBIs last season while splitting time between the Detroit Tigers and the Mets.