Cavaliers News: Latest Buzz Surrounding Tyronn Lue's Status, Potential Return

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is not alone.

That's what Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford wanted to convey when he reached out to Lue after hearing about the health issues that caused him to step away from his coaching duties.

Clifford knows what Lue is going through, because he has been in his shoes.

The 56-year-old had to take a six-week leave of absence of his own earlier this season after suffering from severe headaches caused by sleep deprivation.

"We've always stayed in touch and I mean, he's a terrific coach, but he's a great person," Clifford said, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. "The thing that concerned me the most was the chest pains."

Clifford and Lue have had a connection since the latter played for Orlando and Houston where the former was an assistant coach.

"I'm not a medical person but I think that when you see things like that—a headache is a headache, but the chest pains is what scared me the most," Clifford added.

Clifford called to check on his friend, but what came out of that conversation could signal good news for Cavs fans: Lue may be returning to the bench very soon.

"He [Lue] was positive in that he's feeling better and he didn't seem to think that it was going to be an extended period of time before he returned, which was good to hear," Clifford said.

"And then he's working closely with the doctors which to me is the whole key to the whole thing. You get good doctors, you listen to them and it gives you a chance."

Lue has been sidelined since early last week due to "chest pains and other troubling symptoms, compounded by a lack of sleep."

The plan was for him to rest and focus on his health with the aid of medication, a personal chef and regular exercise.

"My goal is to come out of it a stronger and healthier version of myself so I can continue to lead this team to the Championship we are all working towards," Lue said via statement last week.

Cleveland is 5-1 under assistant coach Larry Drew's regime and only have seven games remaining on the regular-season schedule.

"He's chomping at the bit right now," Drew said of Lue, via Fox Sports Ohio. "He's ready to get back. I talked to him and he was in great spirits. He's doing all the necessary things and I told him, 'Now that you're doing it, I want you to stay on it.' But we can't wait to get him back."

Since the Cavs won't be able to move up from their current third place in the Eastern Conference standings, it might be best to let Lue continue to rest and possibly return when the playoffs start on April 14.

Cleveland's front office has Lue listed as "day-to-day," but they might want to heed the words of ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst:

"What you don't want is Ty to come back, then have to leave again. I would much rather, if possible, to get him back to 100 percent."