A bombshell report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst yesterday revealed that Cavaliers superstar point guard, Kyrie Irving, met with team officials recently and expressed his desire to be traded. Subsequent reports have indicated Irving’s request steams from his preference to be the focal point of a team’s offense and escaping LeBron James‘ towering shadow.
It was shocking news that resonated throughout the NBA; James can be included among those surprised by Irving’s request as Windhorst noted that the four-time MVP was “devastated” to hear his teammate wants out (via Twitter). Since James returned home to Cleveland in 2014, he has taken the reigns both on and off the court, as he’s reportedly been a key influence over the Cavs’ roster moves. In Irving’s case, however, James has elected to defer to the Cavaliers and operate under their discrection, per USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt (via Twitter).
While the Spurs have been named as Irving’s preferred destination, the former Rookie of the Year also listed the Heat, Timberwolves, and Knicks as potential destinations. Yet, without a no-trade clause, Irving has no say over where Cleveland can trade him. Still, the 25-year-old could command a kings ransom on the trade market and Cleveland figures to at least keep one ear open.
Irving’s request has evoked memories of when Kobe Bryant demanded a trade from the Lakers during the 2007 offseason. The Lakers legend, speaking to Stephen A. Smith on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York, made it clear he wanted out of the situation.
“I would like to be traded, yeah,” Bryant said. “Tough as it is to come to that conclusion there’s no other alternative, you know?” In the same interview, Smith pressed Bryant on if anything could change his mind, to which he response was a flat “no.”
“I just want them to do the right thing,” Bryant added.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne tweeted that Bryant asked for a trade in May 2007, it never happened, and he went on to appear in three NBA Finals (winning two). However, Irving and Bryant’s situations are completely different: Bryant wanted to win and the Lakers were off back-to-back poor seasons where he had to average over 30 PPG to keep the Lakers competitive; Irving has been to three straight NBA Finals (winning one) and would be on another championship contender if he stays in Cleveland.
However, Irving has become a secondary figure to James and despite their collective success, Irving clearly wants the same credit and responsibility. In Bryant’s case, he was already the key player; the Lakers acquiesced to Bryant’s demands and upgraded the team into a multiple-time NBA champion.
That brings up several pertinent questions: Does Irving’s request make sense for both him and the team? Can Bryant’s frustration over a poor team in 2007 compare to Irving wanting to leave a championship contender in 2017? Do any of Irving’s preferred destinations make sense for his future? Are there any moves the Cavaliers can make to keep everybody happy?
This will blow over. He’s not going anywhere.
It would take too much to get him and we’re too deep into the postseason trade activity season for anyone to make a move of this magnitude.
San Antonio makes the most sense of the 4 teams on his list.
Outside of Porzingis the Knicks don’t have much talent on the roster(assuming Melo would be part of the package to land him).
The same goes with Miami, Whiteside is limited offensively, Waiters is the only other legitimate scoring threat and he might be a piece in the package for Kyrie.
Both those teams would have to go through the tougher teams in the East in Cleveland, Boston, Washington, and Toronto and wouldn’t have enough talent to get through most of them.
Minnesota is a close second to the Spurs, but they have too many guys who need the ball to be effective in Butler, KAT, and Wiggins. Also he wants to be the face of the franchise and he’d be going up against three other star players.
San Antonio makes the most sense because they have the pieces to get a trade done (Aldridge, Green, Murray, Mills, picks) and Kawhi Leonard isn’t someone who likes the spotlight and he’d probably be more than comfortable letting Kyrie have it and sharing the touches on offense with him so he doesn’t have to do it all. The Spurs are also one of the two teams closest to beating Golden State in the West, the other being Houston, and if they beat the Warriors would be a huge threat to whoever comes out of the East.
It makes sense for Kyrie (who wouldn’t want to play for Poppovic) but it makes no sense for Cleveland…a package centered on lamarcus aldridge is pretty bad
Magic also have the Pieces to.
I don’t see how the Magic’s pieces will entice the Cavs at all
His request makes sense for him, I feel like he wants to prove he can do it without Lebron which is fine. For the team it does in my opinion, get something for him now before he leaves for nothing in 2 years. Plus in my opinion in 2 years Cavs will be without Kyrie, Lebron and Love so need to rebuild.
You can absolutely compare the 2 both frustrated albeit for different reasons Kyrie wants to be THE guy and Kobe wanted to win.
Spurs make the most sense in terms of focal point and win now.
The only deal I can see being a fair return for Kyrie out of the teams he wants to be traded to is Kyrie, for Melo Top 3 protected 2018 pick, another first round pick or the PG they just drafted. Kyrie’s value is so much higher than Melos in my opinion melo much older, worse scorer, making more money. All reasons I’d ask for at least one pick and maybe another if not the young PG
LeBron should to the Lakers and then he can pursue his acting career. He’ll be a superstar film icon just like Shaq was.
From a diehard lakers fan I don’t think I’d want the team to get Lebron honestly, I don’t want us paying 35-40M per year to a guy going on the wrong side of 30 again. I’d much rather prefer PG13 and Cousins over PG and Lebron
your insane if you prefer cousins over lebron. Cousins is a virus and will never win anything because of it
Guess I’m insane to pg13 and boogie
Over Leold anytime!
Trade that could make some sense
Cavs trade: Kyrie, Shumpert
Suns trade: Bledsoe, Chandler, Warren, 2018 first from Mia
Cavs simply add depth something they desperately need
This seems like a pretty nice trade and I think all those guys would fit in well with the Cavs.
I have to disagree on the Spurs making the most sense. While Leonard is a selfless Superstar that would allow Irving to control the offense, there is not a lot of assets there that would entice Cleveland. LMA would not work beside Love, Green and Mills are rotation players, and while I really like Murray, him and very late firsts aren’t needle movers.
Also, if Irving is naming New York as a trade destination, he is not prioritizing winning. For that reason, I think the Knicks have the best chance of the four he named to get him.
If Gilbert is interested in keeping LBJ in town long term, adding Anthony and clearing Love’s money next offseason for a run at Paul may entice James to stay. Even if he does not, Melo probably opts out at the same time and leaves the Cavs cap space.
Also, even with Irving and Zinger, the Knicks would not be a great team, so the firsts the Cavs would receive in a deal would be better than what they would receive from the Spurs. Melo’s salary is approximately $8M more than Irving’s, so the Cavs would be able to pedal another contract on the Knicks (ie. Shump) and probably get the Knicks to include another useful asset at the same time.
Minny just signed Teague, who they won’t be able to deal before the season starts, and you’re right that too many of their players will command the ball regularly. Miami could be intriguing as well, but I think the Knicks would ultimately win out between the two.
Personally, if the Cavs are going to deal him to someone not on the list, Denver is the spot. They have plenty of useful assets to send the Cavs (Murray, Harris, Chandler, etc.), and no one on that team is a ball dominant player.
I agree. That was well said. One of the rumors I saw and liked for the Cavs was a 3-way with Phoenix and the knicks
CLE: Bledsoe, Melo, picks
NY: Kyrie, Frye
PHX: Shumpert, Ntilinka
Cavs clearly gonna be done contending if Kyrie’s not playing for em next season. If I’m Cleveland I just start building the banana boat team and go for a trade involving Melo. They’ll at least sell tickets in the future that way
This doesn’t make sense for anybody, at least not right now. There are exactly two teams with a legit shot at winning the title and he’s on one of them. In a year… things could change, and a trade request would make sense then. But now? It’s curious timing.
For the team, even if you know LeBron is leaving in a year and you think you have one last shot at a title, based on the Butler/George trades, you won’t get better by trading Kyrie.
It’s been quite a while since an NBA superstar made such irrational demands. I was under the impression that everyone had figured out that trade demands and so forth always backfired, but maybe it was just a smooth few years and now we’re back to the old system of salary dumps and trade requests.
The cavs without Kyrie are done even if Lebron stays
That wasn’t even the 1st time Kobe threatened to leave…
If he wants to be the star of a team, why does he want to go to spurs? Still gonna be Kawai’s team.
Irving, Shumpert & Smith for Melo, Courtney Lee, and 2 picks. Then sign Derrick Rose to man the point. Starting 5 of Rose, Melo, LeBron, Love & Thompson with guys like Korver and Lee on the bench. Could even insert Lee/Korver in the starting unit rather than run that lineup out there, which would move Love to the 5.
3 team trade:
Knicks get Kyrie
Lakers get Love and Iman Shumpert
Cavs get Melo, Deng, Clarkson and Corey Brewer.
Cavs the sign Rose and maybe flip Deng for DWade.
Flip Deng and Brewer to Bulls for Dwade.
Rose
Wade
LeBron
Melo
Thompson is the starting 5
Clarkson, Korver, Green, Smith, Jefferson, Frye all off the bench. Flip on of the guards for a big if needed.
Now I know that Kyrie truly feels that the earth is flat! He has no power. A Restricted free agent! Lebron has all the power in hand. Gilbert cannot trade him with a no trade clause, perhaps this might be a blessing in disguised! Now Lebron sees all the jealousy coming from Kyrie, and he don’t appreciate his blessings of getting NBA title. All Dan Gilbert wants to do is make some money. His motto “if you can’t make no money and it doesn’t make sense to own the team. All the fans want is championships. Lebron wants championships and money! Loyalty to Kyrie is gone forever, If Lebron sees a trade he lacks! Chris Paul and Demarcus, George and etc. Using Kyrie for depth and another super team in the Eastern conference to attack the Warriors!
I have no idea what is happening here.
Hahahahahahahahahaha my sentiments exactly
Pretty sure he just kept hitting the next word on the autosuggest over and over. Those are words but not sentences lol
Trading Irving could allow the cavs to potentially get both D-Wade and Melo for this upcoming season. Then they can sign cp3 in the offseason and give Lebron his dream team. This would obviously require other transactions, but I feel that it is atleast a possibility.
I wouldn’t send him any of his desired locations. Send him to Brooklyn or philly. Where they aren’t any good.