Report: Cavs still apart in contract talks with Smith, Lue

The Cleveland Cavaliers received the assurance they needed most this offseason when LeBron James informed them he'll be re-signing, but while James takes his sweet time working out the particulars, the Cavs are struggling to reach mutually agreeable terms with two key pieces of their 2016 championship team: shooting guard J.R. Smith, and head coach Tyronn Lue.

The Cavs have been in negotiations with both Smith and Lue, but remain apart on terms, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports.

General manager David Griffin has expressed confidence that the Cavs will re-sign Smith, but the player admitted recently that, as negotiations with Cleveland stall, he's thought about the possibility of signing elsewhere.

"There has to be sacrifice on both sides, and I think both sides have to come to an understanding where neither one of us is taking advantage of one another," Smith said.

Lue, meanwhile, has been in contract limbo for months. He was initially reported to have accepted a three-year, $9.5-million extension immediately upon taking over for the fired David Blatt midway through the regular season. It was revealed during the playoffs, however, that he never actually signed a new contract, instead restructuring the four-year, $6.5-million deal he was working under as an assistant coach.

Sources told Windhorst that the sides have been discussing a new contract since June. On July 1, the first day of free agency, it was reported that Lue and the Cavs were progressing toward an extension. Nearly three weeks on, they are yet to reach an agreement.