Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is away from his team as he tends to a health concern, but that doesn't mean he'll be out of the loop.
Interim coach Larry Drew said Monday that major lineup decisions will still go through Lue over the phone.
"I'll talk to Ty," Drew said after the Cavs' 124-117 victory over the Bucks, per Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon. "We'll talk about it. He's got the final say-so. Whatever he wants, then that's what we're going to go with. But if he tells me to make a decision, then I'll have to make a decision. But we'll talk. We'll talk probably tonight."
Kevin Love returned from a 20-game absence Monday night, and the Cavs will be seeing more returns shortly. Center Tristan Thompson is due back from an ankle problem soon, while Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr., and Cedi Osman are all dealing with other injuries.
Related: LeBron supports Lue, calls decision to take leave 'well overdue'
Thompson has been in and out of the starting five this season, but Drew said Lue will decide his role upon his return.
"Coach Lue is the one who makes that decision," Drew said. "That's not my call."
A club statement Monday said Lue, 40, is dealing with chest pains and "other troubling symptoms," but revealed no diagnosis of his ailment. NBA TV's David Aldridge reported that Lue and the team will revisit the issue in one week.
Drew has worked as an NBA coach for over 25 years, including a four-season stint running the Atlanta Hawks from 2010-14.
