After requesting a trade from the Cavaliers in the offseason, Kyrie Irving threatened to undergo knee surgery that would sideline him for most or all of the 2017/18 season if the Cavs didn’t move him, multiple sources tell Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. That threat convinced Cleveland’s front office and owner Dan Gilbert that the relationship wasn’t salvageable, according to Vardon.
Sources tell Vardon that Irving will likely need to have knee surgery at some point as a follow-up to the procedure he underwent during the 2015 NBA Finals. That surgery isn’t considered urgent, but would ease some swelling and day-to-day pain in Irving’s knee. An NBA player would typically play through that discomfort and undergo such a procedure in the offseason. But Irving threatened to miss training camp in the fall and have that surgery performed during the 2017/18 season if he remained a Cav, as Vardon’s sources tell it.
After Irving’s trade request first became public, LeBron James‘ camp didn’t do much to dismiss the notion of a possible rift between the two star Cavaliers. However, multiple sources tell Vardon that James eventually asked the Cavs front office not to move Irving, suggesting that he could mend the necessary fences.
In response, the Cavaliers informed James that – given the threat of knee surgery – they felt they had no choice but to trade Irving, which didn’t sit well with LeBron, according to Vardon. The Cleveland.com reporter notes that Irving has major endorsement deals to consider and may have risked hurting the growth of his brand by missing the season. In other words, one could make the case that the team should have called the point guard’s bluff.
Assuming Vardon’s info is accurate – and there’s no reason at this point to assume it’s not – the timing of the leak is worth considering. The Cavs’ season has hit a low point within the last week, and the decision to send Irving to the Celtics looks more questionable than ever. It’s possible that word of Irving’s alleged threat has surfaced in Cleveland now in an effort to give the front office some cover for a trade that increasingly looks like a mistake.
What a baby
Guys a chump
Kyrie is such a beast, I hope the Celtics and Cavs meet in the playoffs, would be wonderful dramatics with lebron and drose crying and hugging eachother ever so tenderly while kyrie elevates his team
He got talent. We all now that. It’s the way he went bout leaving str8 weak.
Wow he wanted to get away from LeChoke that bad? But I thought everyone wanted to play with LeChoke?
From a diehard Celtics fan, LeShutup Dionis
Seriously
But for once he actually makes sense.
Sense, in that, James was voted player most desired to be a teammate.
Irving was clear that he wanted out of James’ shadow… it turns out, almost immediately after he won a title with him. He wanted to be the James somewhere else. If Irving says he regretted his Cav days, then Dionis has a point, but I wouldn’t count on that.
Dionis, you will get the last laugh. LeChoke will leaves the Cavs with a pitiful team when he leaves this year, just like he did the first time. Then Love will leave next year. You can join me in laughing my a-s off at these LeChoke worshipers. This is all I need to say. x%sure makes me sick!
LeBron James is the GOAT. Kyrie is somebody that plays for the celtics.
LeBron is GOAG(greatest of a generation) Jordan is GOAT
And Kyrie is the leader of a team they is possibly going to win the East which is chance he wanted
Jordan is a GOAG, LeBron is the GOAT. Get it right the GOAT doesn’t leave in his prime to play baseball.
Amazing. Every word of that sentence was wrong.
Jordan is the GOAT and he played baseball because his dad died and had wanted him to do it.
Just like Willie Mays in the MLB, the GOAT missed a couple seasons for unique reasons but still managed to be the greatest.
While LeBron is one of the greatest players ever, he isn’t “the” GOAT.
First off Willie Mays is not the GOAT and second, who are the top 2 players in NBA history? LeBron and Mike so he’s definitely in the discussion
You must be 12 years old!
I’m actually 5
I’m not a Lebron worshiper, I’m a Celtics fan for god’s sake, but he doesn’t deserve the amount of crap dumped on him by people such as yourself.
I’ll be laughing by the end of the summer, singing On the Road Again, and looking at the pathetic Cavs roster.
WHICH AT THE END OF THE DAY WILL NOT BE LEBRONS FAULT!! “I hate LeBron so I’ll blame him for having a terrible owner, the most rocky front office possible, and for having a commitment to his HOMETOWN TEAM”
Like man if KD was on the Wizards and they didn’t win a championship, would you be singing the same tune? This man is putting on for his own hometown, he absolutely did not need to come back. No player in the world could take the heat LeBron takes and brush it off like it’s nothing. Your GOATs are childish and arrogant. LeBron, the real GOAT, is an all-around player in all senses of the word
For guys like you! LeBron is going to do to Cleveland what he did before, then Love will leave. I’ll be laughing with all the other Pacer fans. The Cavs will be right back at the bottom looking up.
Kyrie is a scumbag.
“Dionis and I will get the last laugh. Nothing else you guys want to say can matter. GOOOO KYYYRRRIIIEEEE. GOOOO KEEEVVVIIINNN. I mean really. Go back to Los Angeles to be with your playmate girlfriend and be happy away from these lunatics.”
My guy do you realize you created a whole narrative based on your hatred of this guy and Dionis. You are losing it my dude don’t let other people influence you that much you’re going crazy
Other sites don’t have the LeBron worshipers like you guys. Other sites are partial. I’ll agree LeBron is one of the best of all-time. I’m 60. I’ve seen other good ones too. I’ve been watching basketball a little longer than you guys. I grew up with Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller. LeBron is great, but he’s selfish. I do wonder if you are 12 years old.
Dionis and I disagree on LaVar, but ya, he was messing. We are 100% together on this one. Read Cleveland,com sports sometime. You’ll see why I can blow guys like you off.
You have degenerated into senselessness and reaction. Too much watching “banter” sports shows and believing everything they say.
What are you expecting? He is a flat earther. Once you use that as your starting premise why expect thought provoking decision making. If he does not get to an NBA finals again, take it back to flat earth.
I remember LeBron coming back to Cleveland for the first time after he went to Miami. He got booed every time he touched the ball. The Cavs got Kyrie because LeBron left them high and dry, just like he’s about to do again. Will these people still glorify him or will it be like the first time! They should have another shot at a first pick after Love leaves.
And with the nets pick that they got for Kyrie…. doesnt have to leave
LeBron has to win. He won’t do that here with this bunch of old guys. The pick would be Kevin Knox or Colin Sexton. That won’t keep him here. The “only” thing that would keep him here is a max contract. He has to choose between keeping his family here and money vs. winning. Like his agent said all he cares about is winning.
Gotta love all the butt hurt cavs fans, sorry lebron drive away a super star, ppl wonder why he’s one of the most hated NBA players yet question juries wanting out. Look at all the polls you want ppl until you play alongside Lebron no one really knows what it’s like to be a superstar anywhere else only to be in lebrons shadow when playing together. Kyrie made the right move look at how the team is handling love yet nothing about Lebron. This is your team handle it like the king you claim you are. Love seeing turmoil in cle Bc they can’t blame Lebron for anything you already drove a superstar out now love is getting criticism after he’s been considered a great teammate? Way to go cle you are doing everything you can to be the next Cleveland browns. Good luck
LeBron has 3 championships and EVERY team would LOVE to have him on their team. Plus it was Isiah Thomas that threw K Love under the bus. You can’t seriously blame LeBron for how blatantly terrible the Cavs whole organization has been
He recruited all these guys except IT and Crowder. Why can’t you blame LeBron? This is his team. He’s going to leave Crowder, Tristan, Love for 1 year, Cedi for 1 year, Ante, their picks maybe, and J.R. for the Cavs to start over with. This is LeBron’s
(win now) fault!! And these guys are overpaid because of LeBron.
Everybody wanted to throw Kevin out of town after a couple of finals. He has a a Playboy playmate girlfriend and lives in L.A. in the offseason. The way he’s been treated, what makes you think he wants to stay here, especially with LeBron gone?
I picture this as some crazy DieHard scene, Kyrie and the Cavs front office. Kyrie, “Take another step, and I’ll get surgery… dont push me! DONT-PUSH-ME…. trade me, or the knee gets it!” Gilbert, “Kyrie, no, let’s talk about it. We can work this out! Where is LeBron, why isn’t he here?!”
Assuming Vardon’s info is correct is like assuming Jimmer Fredette can play PG
I’d love to see Michael Jordan in his prime try to play defense on Kevin Durant. Let’s see Jordan stop a 4v1 fastbreak against Curry, Thompson, KD, and Dray. The game has changed but if you put LeBron on any team you’re welcome for the 27/7/7
That’s the problem. You didn’t see M.J.
I’ve seen Michael Jordan play basketball dude, he didn’t impact the game in all the same ways as LeBron. He’s probably the best 1 on 1 player ever but once LeBron retires he’s the GOAT barring injury
Read the ESPN article about Jordan vs. Tom Brady as greatest American male athletes and how they affected their sports. I’ll take their professional opinion over yours. Your opinion means nothing
until you have a writers education and work for a reputable network.
See ESPN: Michael Jordan, greatest American male athlete of all time. Hahahahaha!!!!
Labron goes where he wants, he only wins by forming super teams, but he is the GOAT? NOT.
He can’t do jack without Kyrie, he is only a gunner and a coddled egomaniac. Maybe some Sprite will help the Cavs win, huh?
I like how they threw Love under the bus when he was ill. What a bunch of losers, that Cavs org.
Cavs are done, put a fork in them. Kyrie is a chieftain now, enjoy!!!
For once LeBron was right. Should have called his bluff, particularly with still another year on the contract. Better than making a deal for a few pieces that nobody will be able to find in a few years.
He only wants to play with winners, and his recruiting all old guys finally caught up with him. He knows Love will leave. He’ll bail on this bunch. Was I right on George Hill?. Tyreke Evans makes way more sense. No matter who they get, it won’t be enough.
I think Kyrie should undergo treatment for cranial-rectal inversion.
Yet the green kick the Cav’s butts. MVP = Kyrie
Being a good basketball player on a good team doesn’t mean you’re not an ingratiated whelp
You are helpless without someone else’s opinion. Tired of hearing you yammer on, saying the same thing over & over that won’t happen for years and would mostly just free up salary anyway. Yes Love is a west coast guy so eventually he will go there. In that case his salary can be put to better use. Elsewhere you say the Cavs are all overpaid. You don’t know what to believe.
“You” being Swanson, above.
I know this. You don’t want to believe anything the writers write. I’m from outside Cleveland. A lot of people outside Cleveland don’t like LeBron. You are obsessed with him, so I’d expect you to be the way you are. I’ll stick with my Hoosier family and friends. I know exactly what I believe. You are trying to change me to agree with your opinion and that won’t happen.
I’m a patient person. Us Pacer fans know we’ll never win a championship,, but we can enjoy it when we see the Cavs fail, Like they did the first time LBJ left. I’m seriously not going to respond to any more of your useless comments. We agree to disagree.
Lmao you’re a Pacers fan too. Geez this seriously keeps getting better, obviously you’re jealous that LeBron is always in the Finals after eliminating you guys.
No. We had Reggie! We’re happy with that! Like I said and you won’t listen. If LeBron had played in the Western Conference, he never would have been to 6 Finals. He picked the easy way like he always has. He left the Cavs the first time because he knew they weren’t going any where. We gave Reggie a Rolls Royce. We’ll take watching the Pacers now over the Cavs. The Cavs are $25 million into the luxury tax, the Pacers $6 million under the cap. Pacers are only a few games behind Cavs. The players are having fun, you don’t see them bitching, and the fans enjoy watching them. Oladipo is a nice player, but he’s not dictating to the Pacers how to run their business. Pacer fans are jealous, and we’re not obsessed.
We’re not jealous. we accept what we have!