Cleveland Cavaliers

Cavaliers call lawsuit by former assistant coach 'frivolous'

Published Nov. 2, 2018 4:43 p.m. ET

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers say an age-discrimination lawsuit filed by former assistant coach Jim Boylan is "frivolous" and a "shameless cash grab."

Boylan filed a claim Thursday. The team did not pick up its contract option last summer on the 63-year-old Boylan, who spent five seasons with the team working on staffs under David Blatt and Tyronn Lue.

In his lawsuit, Boylan's attorney provided the transcript of a voicemail left by Lue telling him the team was moving in a different direction. Boylan also contends general manager Koby Altman told him owner Dan Gilbert wanted a younger coach.

On Friday, the Cavs released a strongly worded statement contesting Boylan's lawsuit and said it will "seek immediate dismissal of this disappointing, unwarranted and baseless claim."

Boylan broke in as an NBA assistant in 1993 with Cleveland. He went 24-32 as Chicago's interim head coach in 2007-08.