Clippers lose assistant coach Tyronn Lue to Cleveland

Clippers assistant coach Tyronn Lue has accepted a position with the Cleveland Cavaliers to become their associated head coach, The Times has confirmed.

Lue, who will join the staff of newly hired Cleveland Coach David Blatt, will earn about $1 million per season, according to reports and confirmed by NBA officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Lue had impressed Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert and General Manager David Griffin during his two interviews with the Cavaliers for the head-coaching position that went to Blatt.

Lue had been in charge of the Clippers’ defense under Coach Doc Rivers.

Now Rivers has three positions to fill on his bench with Lue going to Cleveland, Alvin Gentry going to the Golden State Warriors to be the associate head coach and Kevin Eastman going up to the Clippers’ front office to be the vice president of basketball operations.

Gentry, who also interviewed for the head Cleveland job, was offered the associate head coach job with the Cavaliers at $1.2 million per season, according to NBA officials.