Kyrie Irving realizes that he will never be the Cavaliers‘ true leader with LeBron James around and that, coupled with the duo’s relationship, propelled him to request a trade from the team, Stephen A. Smith reports on The Undefeated.
“Kyrie isn’t saying he’s better than LeBron and should be seen that way,” a close confidant of Irving’s tells Smith. “He’s saying he’s not about to let LeBron ‘SON’ him … treating him like he’s the child and LeBron’s the father or big brother he’s supposed to look up to.
“Kyrie knows he’s a franchise-caliber talent. He wants to be treated like it. And he’s tired of hearing about what LeBron needs, and he’s damn sure tired of hearing LeBron sound like he always needs more. As if the crew they have isn’t enough.”
Here’s more from Cleveland:
- When Irving signed his five-year, max extension back in 2014, he was unaware that James would be returning to the team. LBJ announced he would come back to Cleveland just 10 days after Irving signed his agreement and according to Smith, the point guard wasn’t thrilled with James’ decision.
- The Cavaliers don’t have to trade Irving now, but they can’t wait too long to make a move, Bud Shaw of Cleveland.com contends. Shaw argues that it would be best for the franchise to trade the point guard before training camp so that the team can attempt to harmoniously prepare for the season after an offseason of turmoil.
I don’t blame Ky for his decision he ain’t no snake Idc what anybody says
I agree 100%with Kyrie
I think kyrie is being a punk. You got the best player on your team with a shot at another title. Play your role and let’s get one more for the land . I didn’t see any rings on his hand before the king returned
So it’s ok for LeBron leave, but not Kyrie? When LeBron turns his back on Cleveland (again) after the season, why should Kyrie be stuck in yet another rebuilding situation and sketchy ownership? Think objectively.
If I played with Lebron I would be happy, but I get him wanting to be in the spotlight.
Kyrie doesn’t want to be in the dumpster fire after LBJ leaves. Kyrie is the real deal. He mugged steph curry and outplayed him completely when cavs won championship. If he would commit to be a two-way player every game, he would be in the conversation for MVP. Love to see him on the Knicks!
Yet he wants to go to an existing dumpster – the Knicks.
knicks dumpster fire won’t be worse than cavs once bron leaves… at least new york has porzingis
I’d rather live in NY than be stuck in “The Land” any day. Plus, the Knicks roster is younger, which means they can better build the team around Kyrie.
Kyrie and Lebron both needed each other to win but Kyrie won Game 7 2016. He’s the most electrifying player in the league.
Some man named Russell Westbrook would disagree
For sure, I wholeheartedly agree with your first statement…Everyone of LeBron’s apologists and his biggest fans seem to think LeBron single-handedly won then that title, mostly by hisself…
However, thesee same people coincidentally magically just forget who the Cavs went to, and who even LeBron turned to, when it came down to several, key pivotal moments…Here is a little hint, it certinly was NOT LeBron James that hit those huge, series-altering shots, it was Kyrie Irving!!
In fact, almost single-handedly, Kyrie went in a couple of major scoring runs throughout that series..Those scoring outpores are what ended up winning Cleveland the title…
So, of course, LeBron played a major role in winning that title, BUT for EVERY CHAMPIONSHIP LeBron has ultimately won, IT WAS NOT LeBron James that hit the biggest shots in the biggest moments!! D-Wade, Kyrie, and Ray Allen all say hello…LeBron James can make the greatest basketball plays in big, clutch moments and games, but he just never hits the shots he decides to take, and will even purposely defer, because he knows he ultimately lacks that “clutch gene,” that killer instinct that the greatest closers have always had..
Part of LeBron biggest flaws stem from his personality…He is excellent in helping kids, and overall, he’s a good guy, but he acts incredibly entitled when it comes to “King James'” basketball teams…Regardless whatever his GM is able to pull off, it is never enough for him, and he will again leave Cleveland in shambles and in just an incredibly horrible payroll situation…It was LeBron that wanted and basically forced Cleveland to sign JR Smith to that hugely overpaying deal, and it was LeBron that pressured Cleveland into signing T.Thompson for a MUCH bigger payoff than his play on the court deserves…T.T. is NOTHING MORE than just a good low-post rebounder and defender…Players with his contract, are usually more versatile or have some semblance of an offensive game, but not TT…Not to mention, they aren’t even able to draft and develop any new and young players, because LeBron doesn’t want them!!! He wants to trade every single available asset Cleveland owns, so that way it can immediately make his team stronger!!
If LeBron “LOVED” Cleveland so much, why does he hold the whole front office in hostage, and constantly forces them to overpay to make dumb signings?? Why does he complain and whine even after Cleveland has already emptied out all of their money and future assets, telling them nothing is ever enough for the King!?!? This will eventually ruin their future, and when LeBron leaves Cleveland holding the bags of guys like Shump, TT, and JR Smith…
This rant hasn’t even mentioned the fact he pretty much forced Cleveland to trade away a rising young, future star in Andrew Wiggins, plus some, so he could get his big, man crush in Kevin Love…Now, he isn’t happy with Kevin Love, so guess what Cleveland, you better do your best to find another trading partner, and nowe take dimes on the dollar for Love..It is absurd what LeBron has demanded from this front office, SOLELY because they want to keep him around…YET, where is that same loyalty from LeBron??
And that is where it all comes back to Kyrie…He is tired of LeBron’s B.S., griping, moaning, and groaning, that his teammates aren’t good enough, yet HE IS THE ONE THAT HAS BASICALLY ASSEMBLED THE TEAM!?!? lol…Makes soo much sense right!?!…Kyrie, wants no part of playing in Cleveland any longer, because he knows what’s up…LeBron is going to leave this team out to pasture, and carrying LeBron’s trash as he waves goodbye…The team will be a huge wreck, and Kyrie wants to write his own story from now on…
He wants to actually help a team build for the future, not just empty their pockets and dry up their assets until he’s ready to skip town for some greener grass…
You forgot the part where he took an irrelevant team to three straight finals and won Cleveland its first title in decades.
There are 28 teams in the NBA that would give anything fot that kind of success.
How long did it take LeBron to win a championship? Yeah, that’s what I thought. So he got to three Finals before that. Big whoop, the east was and still is a dumpster fire.
People seem to think LeBron likes the Cavs. He hates Dan Gilbert and is only in Cleveland since he’s from Akron and wanted to bring success to the city. He made the worst teams I’ve ever seen into perennial playoff teams before he left for Miami. Loyalty is two fold and the Cavs management didn’t do anything for LeBron. Bron then comes back after the owner has publicly berated him and takes the team to three straight finals. Kobe was stuck with a bad team for just a couple years and demanded a trade. Only difference between Kobe’s and LeBron’s actions is that the team that drafted (technically traded for) Kobe had a competent front office
Would love if the Heat had some picks to give, Dragic, TJ and maybe another player besides Winslow, Whiteside, Waiters, Olynyk, J Johnson. and some pick would be awesome. and Wade coming back for 6 man.
No way Cavs fall for that $hit
Something like this in the East would be awesome.
Kyrie
Waiters
Winslow
Olynyk
Whiteside
Richardson
Wade
Adebayo
Ellington
Johnson
Okaro
Haslem
Hammons
McGruder
No, it should look like this:
Irving
Monk
Batum
Williams
Howard
Bacon
Kyrie won nothing before Lebron came back. He was injured half the time. Yes, Kyrie was a big part of the Cavs winning the title, but if he or anyone else thinks that the Cavs win a title without Lebron is nuts
Because he was slowly trying to help rebuild a team that LeBron dismantled from his constant whining and moaning and groaning about how hE always needed more help…Until he completely ran that team dry of hardly any current or future assets left…
Then, when he comes back he bleeds them dry again…First demanding a trade for Kevin Love, which made Cleveland lose a future stud in Wiggins, etc. Now, he wants more and isnt happy with his current teammates, yet how ironic is the fact he is unhappy with THE TEAM HE MOSTLY PUT TOGETHER!! He is a genuine good guy, when it comes to the community and kids, but he is garbage when it comes to constantly holding Cleveland hostage and forcing them to commit future financial and franchise suicide!!
Yea franchise suicide that has led them to 3 straight finals appearances, a championship and had kyrie and Love been healthy the first go round it would be two titles. If that’s what you call franchise suicide i wish someone one commit franchise suicide to my team.
Also how easily you forget what happened the first 7 years Lebron spent in Cleveland when he didn’t hold them accountable. The second best player they ever put around him was mo Williams. He took a team of nobodies to the finals on his back and they were consistently a 50 plus win team. Even with all that he was judged and insulted for not being able to win a ring. So now when he makes sure he is a position where he always has a chance to win he is a jerk for holding the team accountable. Lebron really can’t win with ya’ll.
If Cleveland’s owner hasn’t made bank off of LeBron, then he’s a horrible businessman. You make it sound like LeBron isn’t responsible for basically ALL of the financial success the Cavs have seen over the last 2 decades. The Cavs have had 4 sub-20-win seasons, and ONLY in the Dan Gilbert era has it taken them 2 years to see a 5 win increase.
Kyrie needs to understand what the NBA is right now. Every team is trying to bring 3 NBA stars to the fold.
I get the LBJ enjoys a wide amount of perks in Cleveland. He’s that guy. He single handedly brought the value of the franchize up.
I also think it’s wrong to blame Gilbert. I know for a fact that LBJ’s people didn’t let it be known he was coming back until after Kyrie was extended. It’s also silly for them to think that this would’ve been kept quiet. You really think Gilbert wanted the fans to think he wanted to trade Irving?
Tell all that to LeBron then. Why’s it ok for him to bounce, but not Kyrie? There’s something mentally wrong with LeBron, and I don’t blame Kyrie for no longer wanting to play with him.
Please understand I’m no “LBJ defender”. I call it like it is. I’m more of a Cavs fan and in fact, Kyrie is my favorite player. That being said, LBJ owned up to all of his contracts. He fulfilled ever year that he signed up for. Kyrie is asking to be traded while other contract. The two are not the same and we need to stop acting like it is. LBJ get’s special treatment because he is that special. He leaves, the team’s value drops and downtown Cleveland isn’t as lively as it was. He comes back, valuation goes up and the city is live again and people are coming to spend money. He is a walking talking groaning and whining business. Kyrie isn’t. No one is folding up shop if he leaves. LBJ put his time in. Kyrie hasn’t.
Hornets:
Trade: Kemba Walker and Dwayne Bacon
Receive: Kylie Irving and Iman Shumpert
Crap
Kyrie is an all star but a team where he’s their best player has no chance of a championship.
Pheonix please Trade Bledsoe only for Picks or anything else’s we don’t need Irving the perfect player is Luca Doncic for the Suns.
Trade Bledsoe and hire Deron Williams for this year .
Give never up Warren or Jackson or Chriss
Trust me
LeBron is a snake
I’m sorry, but I honestly didn’t understand any of that, except for the last statement…Which, I happen to truly agree with the fact LeBron is a giant snake, but just solely when it comes to basketball…You cannot talk too bad about a man’s personal character when he has done SOO MUCH for kids and the city of Akron…The number of kids’ lives he has touched, is truly inspiring, and I do respect him, but solely for that fact alone…
What does LBJ being a snake have to do with you offering a “sh*tty” return for Kyrie?
Please hold on to your picks. Let’s see where the jersey sales are for Bledsoe or Jackson or (can’t believe I’m even saying this) of Warren or Chriss.
I agree with Irving with the what lebron wants and needs. Last year in Cleveland all we heard was lebron was upset and he needs better players around him. Kyrie and the guys already there are like ummm hello?!
He wasn’t talking Kyrie. he was talking Love stop being a dud. And JR, Shump, and Frye weren’t the support they were the year before. JR looked like he just started playing basketball at times in the playoffs. Thompson looks like as bad as Mozgovs contract. Supporting cast got paid, got lazy, and didn’t show up. Bron and Kyrie vs the world. Basically he was like get me better role players. They need a big shot Bob.
No he wasn’t talking about Love either. He was talking about a back up point guard. I know he’s responsible for what comes out of his mouth but I can’t believe how stupid some fans are. He recruited Love and he had a great year as the 3rd option.
LBJ always wants more when he has plenty to win the East. Kyrie is great and he should do what he feels is best for him. The Warriors know how to manage a franchise. Kerr, Currie and Durant are the keys to success and they are individuals that you love to root for as they are great people.
You can’t compare the two situations at all. The GSW were put together differently and grew into being a championship team. The Cavs went from a last place team to 3 straight finals. When done that way you’re not going to have the cap space the GSW had. Please think about that. Not being rude to you but seriously.
Ironically, Irving has never been so “son”-like as he has been recently.
But there are also rational reasons for ‘acting up’ such as at the wedding party… hurting his trade value reduces what his new team will have to give up to the CC!
I think Irving is kind of whiny and there’s definitely too many egos for one team right now in Cleveland… but, in so far as LeBron indirectly slamming his teammates for not being as amazing as himself and whining about his GM not getting a whole new roster around him, I can see why Irving would rather try his luck elsewhere.