Kyrie Trade Discussion Continued

[JeepCSC]

The flip side is that it's almost unheard of for a top 3 all-time talent to walk out on teams built specifically for them. Lebron has done it twice and everyone expects him to do it again. Kyrie didn't want to be like Wade holding the bag on the tarmac as Lebron zooms off next year. Good for him.

I don't get the holding-the-bag narrative. If Kyrie told them after the season that he was going to opt out & not re-sign, with only one year left, he wouldn't even have to ask for a trade. Cavs would immediately put him on the block. With only one year left, he'd have a lot more control over which team he ended up with.

The comparison doesn't hold, of course, because we're trying to examine someone leaving when his contract is complete versus someone requesting a trade when, I think, they have two years left on their contract.

To answer Jeep's comment further, though, the problem for Kyrie is that LeBron is better than him. Significantly better. Which means that LeBron is more likely to come out the "winner" in all this as compared with Kyrie. Even an aging LeBron.

Peak Shaq was better than Peak Kobe, but the gap between those two was closer than the gap between LeBron and Kyrie. And Kobe played in LA for the Lakers (easy to recruit players), and Kobe played for one of the best coaches of all time.

I was just listening to Zach Lowe's podcast from today and he said "Kyrie's going to get killed for this", meaning Kyrie is going to take a public relations beating. He will, and he should. How many plaudits does Carmelo Anthony get for being 'the man' on the Knicks?

Windhorst, who was on Lowe's podcast, said that Kyrie will look bad if he's languishing on a bad franchise while LeBron is headed back to the Finals, without him.

I agree.

All of this comes back to "knowing your role" or "staying in your lane." Kyrie isn't LeBron, isn't Kobe, etc. Nothing wrong with wanting to spread your wings, but the timing is poor and you are over-valuing yourself here. Going to the Finals every year is good for one's brand.

The better player has more leverage than the lesser player because he's the better player. That's why lesser talents don't leave greater talents, particularly ones at LeBron's level. That was Lowe's point. It just makes no sense, and it particularly makes no sense to do it in this rushed (still under contract) way.

To say this another way, Kyrie isn't LeBron. So what LeBron can do is not what Kyrie can do, at least almost certainly not with the same level of success. Because he's not as good a player. Just as I may not be able to use the same pick-up lines as Prime Brad Pitt because I don't look as good as he does, or have as much money.

Durant looks good for having left OKC now because he won a title. But Westbrook also looks ok because he had a historic season, averaged a triple double and won MVP.

Also, there are no current 73-9 teams for Kyrie to be traded to.

How does Kyrie look when LeBron possibly returns to the Finals without him and Kyrie could be struggling on a non-playoff squad?

We might soon find out.

It isn't about Lebron being better than Kyrie. It's about Kyrie not wanting to be left with a team with all it's assets tied up in a team built around Lebron and no Lebron. Simply waiting in limbo for a year while Lebron decides if he likes you well enough to stay past next season isn't my idea of fun. I can imagine it doesn't appeal to some All-Stars in their prime.

[bearjew289]

Why are so many "Cavs" fans **** on Kyrie right now? Anybody with common sense can see LeBron brings with him a soap opera of problems. LeBron is passive aggressive and he's a hypocrite. He'll crap all over his teammates for not trying hard, but willing to take a seat on the bench in the middle of the game just cuz.

Kyrie simply doesn't want his career to be orchestrated by LeBron, and he's willing to forgo a sure chance of reaching the playoffs and even the finals to pursue his dream his own way. Call it an ego trip or whatever, but it's at least refreshing that some guys won't gargle LeBron's nutsack.

Kyrie was willing to lead a young, rebuilding team and recruit stars to play with him. Then in 11 days it changed to whatever LeBron wants he gets. It's unfortunate that LeBron just wants old washed up shooters who play no defense and threw out every young prospect and draft pick to do so. This team was a joke in the finals despite having a great offense all year, and it only gets worse with age.

Anyways, Cavs fans should be happy Kyrie is leaving because if LeBron is as narcissistic as we all think, he'll stay in Cleveland to counter all the chatter of him to LA being a reason Kyrie wants out now.

This team just ran into arguably the greatest team ever assembled. They beat a 73-9 team and took the Warriors to 6 even with Kyrie and Love out. That's why Lebron get's whatever he wants, because he takes every **** team in the east to the finals. Kyrie was out for the first half of 2016 and the cavs still had the #1 seed. Kyrie played like **** during the first few rounds of this years playoffs but Lebron easily carried them to sweeps. Kyrie's may not want his career orchestrated by Lebron but his career wouldn't be **** right now had Lebron not came to Cleveland.

[bearjew289]

I don't get the holding-the-bag narrative. If Kyrie told them after the season that he was going to opt out & not re-sign, with only one year left, he wouldn't even have to ask for a trade. Cavs would immediately put him on the block. With only one year left, he'd have a lot more control over which team he ended up with.

The comparison doesn't hold, of course, because we're trying to examine someone leaving when his contract is complete versus someone requesting a trade when, I think, they have two years left on their contract.

To answer Jeep's comment further, though, the problem for Kyrie is that LeBron is better than him. Significantly better. Which means that LeBron is more likely to come out the "winner" in all this as compared with Kyrie. Even an aging LeBron.

Peak Shaq was better than Peak Kobe, but the gap between those two was closer than the gap between LeBron and Kyrie. And Kobe played in LA for the Lakers (easy to recruit players), and Kobe played for one of the best coaches of all time.

I was just listening to Zach Lowe's podcast from today and he said "Kyrie's going to get killed for this", meaning Kyrie is going to take a public relations beating. He will, and he should. How many plaudits does Carmelo Anthony get for being 'the man' on the Knicks?

Windhorst, who was on Lowe's podcast, said that Kyrie will look bad if he's languishing on a bad franchise while LeBron is headed back to the Finals, without him.

I agree.

All of this comes back to "knowing your role" or "staying in your lane." Kyrie isn't LeBron, isn't Kobe, etc. Nothing wrong with wanting to spread your wings, but the timing is poor and you are over-valuing yourself here. Going to the Finals every year is good for one's brand.

The better player has more leverage than the lesser player because he's the better player. That's why lesser talents don't leave greater talents, particularly ones at LeBron's level. That was Lowe's point. It just makes no sense, and it particularly makes no sense to do it in this rushed (still under contract) way.

To say this another way, Kyrie isn't LeBron. So what LeBron can do is not what Kyrie can do, at least almost certainly not with the same level of success. Because he's not as good a player. Just as I may not be able to use the same pick-up lines as Prime Brad Pitt because I don't look as good as he does, or have as much money.

Durant looks good for having left OKC now because he won a title. But Westbrook also looks ok because he had a historic season, averaged a triple double and won MVP.

Also, there are no current 73-9 teams for Kyrie to be traded to.

How does Kyrie look when LeBron possibly returns to the Finals without him and Kyrie could be struggling on a non-playoff squad?

We might soon find out.

It isn't about Lebron being better than Kyrie. It's about Kyrie not wanting to be left with a team with all it's assets tied up in a team built around Lebron and no Lebron. Simply waiting in limbo for a year while Lebron decides if he likes you well enough to stay past next season isn't my idea of fun. I can imagine it doesn't appeal to some All-Stars in their prime.

Why can't you just go all in for one more year and try to win the championship and then request a trade if Lebron leaves? The timing of this is just really bizarre.

[jbk1234]

I don't get the holding-the-bag narrative. If Kyrie told them after the season that he was going to opt out & not re-sign, with only one year left, he wouldn't even have to ask for a trade. Cavs would immediately put him on the block. With only one year left, he'd have a lot more control over which team he ended up with.

The comparison doesn't hold, of course, because we're trying to examine someone leaving when his contract is complete versus someone requesting a trade when, I think, they have two years left on their contract.

To answer Jeep's comment further, though, the problem for Kyrie is that LeBron is better than him. Significantly better. Which means that LeBron is more likely to come out the "winner" in all this as compared with Kyrie. Even an aging LeBron.

Peak Shaq was better than Peak Kobe, but the gap between those two was closer than the gap between LeBron and Kyrie. And Kobe played in LA for the Lakers (easy to recruit players), and Kobe played for one of the best coaches of all time.

I was just listening to Zach Lowe's podcast from today and he said "Kyrie's going to get killed for this", meaning Kyrie is going to take a public relations beating. He will, and he should. How many plaudits does Carmelo Anthony get for being 'the man' on the Knicks?

Windhorst, who was on Lowe's podcast, said that Kyrie will look bad if he's languishing on a bad franchise while LeBron is headed back to the Finals, without him.

I agree.

All of this comes back to "knowing your role" or "staying in your lane." Kyrie isn't LeBron, isn't Kobe, etc. Nothing wrong with wanting to spread your wings, but the timing is poor and you are over-valuing yourself here. Going to the Finals every year is good for one's brand.

The better player has more leverage than the lesser player because he's the better player. That's why lesser talents don't leave greater talents, particularly ones at LeBron's level. That was Lowe's point. It just makes no sense, and it particularly makes no sense to do it in this rushed (still under contract) way.

To say this another way, Kyrie isn't LeBron. So what LeBron can do is not what Kyrie can do, at least almost certainly not with the same level of success. Because he's not as good a player. Just as I may not be able to use the same pick-up lines as Prime Brad Pitt because I don't look as good as he does, or have as much money.

Durant looks good for having left OKC now because he won a title. But Westbrook also looks ok because he had a historic season, averaged a triple double and won MVP.

Also, there are no current 73-9 teams for Kyrie to be traded to.

How does Kyrie look when LeBron possibly returns to the Finals without him and Kyrie could be struggling on a non-playoff squad?

We might soon find out.

It isn't about Lebron being better than Kyrie. It's about Kyrie not wanting to be left with a team with all it's assets tied up in a team built around Lebron and no Lebron. Simply waiting in limbo for a year while Lebron decides if he likes you well enough to stay past next season isn't my idea of fun. I can imagine it doesn't appeal to some All-Stars in their prime.

You can keep repeating that narrative but it makes no sense. Cavs would've gladly traded Kyrie after this season if he wasn't going to re-sign. You don't want to be just good enough to be the 8-10th seed in the East. He wasn't going to get stuck on the Cavs. It's coming out now that Kyrie almost asked for a trade last year - after the team won a championship & LBJ signed his new deal.

[JeepCSC]

The comparison doesn't hold, of course, because we're trying to examine someone leaving when his contract is complete versus someone requesting a trade when, I think, they have two years left on their contract.

To answer Jeep's comment further, though, the problem for Kyrie is that LeBron is better than him. Significantly better. Which means that LeBron is more likely to come out the "winner" in all this as compared with Kyrie. Even an aging LeBron.

Peak Shaq was better than Peak Kobe, but the gap between those two was closer than the gap between LeBron and Kyrie. And Kobe played in LA for the Lakers (easy to recruit players), and Kobe played for one of the best coaches of all time.

I was just listening to Zach Lowe's podcast from today and he said "Kyrie's going to get killed for this", meaning Kyrie is going to take a public relations beating. He will, and he should. How many plaudits does Carmelo Anthony get for being 'the man' on the Knicks?

Windhorst, who was on Lowe's podcast, said that Kyrie will look bad if he's languishing on a bad franchise while LeBron is headed back to the Finals, without him.

I agree.

All of this comes back to "knowing your role" or "staying in your lane." Kyrie isn't LeBron, isn't Kobe, etc. Nothing wrong with wanting to spread your wings, but the timing is poor and you are over-valuing yourself here. Going to the Finals every year is good for one's brand.

The better player has more leverage than the lesser player because he's the better player. That's why lesser talents don't leave greater talents, particularly ones at LeBron's level. That was Lowe's point. It just makes no sense, and it particularly makes no sense to do it in this rushed (still under contract) way.

To say this another way, Kyrie isn't LeBron. So what LeBron can do is not what Kyrie can do, at least almost certainly not with the same level of success. Because he's not as good a player. Just as I may not be able to use the same pick-up lines as Prime Brad Pitt because I don't look as good as he does, or have as much money.

Durant looks good for having left OKC now because he won a title. But Westbrook also looks ok because he had a historic season, averaged a triple double and won MVP.

Also, there are no current 73-9 teams for Kyrie to be traded to.

How does Kyrie look when LeBron possibly returns to the Finals without him and Kyrie could be struggling on a non-playoff squad?

We might soon find out.

It isn't about Lebron being better than Kyrie. It's about Kyrie not wanting to be left with a team with all it's assets tied up in a team built around Lebron and no Lebron. Simply waiting in limbo for a year while Lebron decides if he likes you well enough to stay past next season isn't my idea of fun. I can imagine it doesn't appeal to some All-Stars in their prime.

Why can't you just go all in for one more year and try to win the championship and then request a trade if Lebron leaves? The timing of this is just really bizarre.

He could. But he's not required to stay in a sham marriage just because Lebron's contract runs one more year. Not playing to Lebron's tune is kind of the whole point.

[JB2]

From rebuilding to win now Vlade ? After all the work done during the draft, you will throw all of them away for 1 so-so star ? Not making any sense.......Kings still might not even make the playoffs even with the addition of Robin.

Sacramento be fortunate if either of Fox or Buddy hit Kyrie's level.

[Coachcavplaya23]

For the simple fact that everybody is glossing over for some reason. HES UNDER CONTRACT.

Like I have said in 10 previous posts, not all Cavs fans would hate Kyrie if he just decided to go his separate way after his contract expired and he was a FA. His words and response would be 100% understandable at that junction. The fact that hes causing internal drama when he is smack dab in the middle of a 5 year deal he signed by demanding a trade away from a title contender is the frustrating part to Cavs fans.

HIS talent was a major reason why LeBron came back in the first place and now hes bolting because he has a equally large ego about his self worth as LeBron does basically ending the Cavs fans 5-7 year awesome window of championship runs prematurely at 3 years.

But Kyrie signed his contract before LeBron made his move. He didn't anticipate this drama. I'm sure he was happy to learn how to be successful and lead a team. KLove isn't complaining because he had a chance to evaluate what sacrifices he's willing to make in order to win, and THEN he re-signed. Kyrie had no choice/say in the matter but he soldier'd on anyways.

Same thing happened with Blatt. He signed on with acknowledgement from the front office that he was an experiment, but was low risk high reward for a rebuilding team. Then LeBron comes and all experimentation with Euro style player movement went out the door. Granted he wasn't ready for the NBA, much less handling super egos on his team, but he was on contract and did the best he could. Didn't stop LeBron from starting a coup against him.

But the straw breaking moment for Kyrie was being devalued by the organization under LeBron's direction in offering him up in trades. Again, Kyrie signed his contract being told "You're the man...we love you here....we'll build around you"---->3 years later "hey Kyrie, we might trade you because LeBron can't win with you".

If Cavs fans should be pissed at anything, be pissed at LeBron for starting this drama (again, this has been going on since he came back--ie: subtweeting, or just plain screaming at people on the court) and not understanding how to build a team long term. Look hard at the Cavs when he first left, they were a joke. The only team that opposed his demands were Pat Riley and the Heat and you can see they rebuilt themselves within a couple of years despite losing their 2 other all stars.

Sounds like your upset at the wrong person and are spewing your hatred for LeBron because you see a tiny crack. Fact is--he has been to 7 straight NBA Finals with multiple rings to show for it and is a top 3 player of all time. Maybe it might be wise to assume he knows exactly what he is doing when he yells at people and subtweets to gain a rise out of that person and more people should follow his lead.

Your also extremely off base with him being in trade rumors. He has never been in a single trade rumor. His name came up once the season was over when one team asked and Griffin shot it down. Kevin Love on the other hand has had his name swirling all over the place for 2 years and he hasnt said a single word and actually altered his game from the 3pt line to do whats best for the team. The team was built around Kyries iso-ball and he jacks up more shots than LeBron does....and hes the one complaining about fit and asking for trades?

Do you think he has all of those rings by himself now? His teammates helped him get those rings including Irving Allen Bosh Wade and Love and other players as well. Less people should follows Lebrons lead bro. Lebron got his friends paydays and calls Gilbert complacent despite having the highest payroll for 3 years. Lets not forget he decided to speak out for his friends to get paydays which instantly killed any future flexibility to move them for other pieces if we needed to.

[HotRocks34]

He could. But he's not required to stay in a sham marriage just because Lebron's contract runs one more year. Not playing to Lebron's tune is kind of the whole point.

Then it's a bad decision, I would think.

The phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face" seems applicable here.

As I said earlier, the "Someone stood up to LeBron, yay!" crowd might love this move, but from a more objective standpoint it seems to make little sense. As Lowe said, Kyrie is going to get crushed for this. And he could end up on a non-contender where his brand suffers, as well.

If Kyrie waits even a year, as jbk said, he's in a much better position.

Doing this now feels rushed, and it makes Kyrie the "bad guy" when he could have avoided these complications.

Not letting LeBron control your fate is a great goal, if that's what you want, but destroying your leverage and image just to escape LeBron's control for one more season (or two at the most) might not be the best solution.

[turk3d]

He also makes Love a better player for them. .

i think people confuse being on a winning team with "playing better". love averaged 34ppg/14rpg/6apg(i think) against gsw in his final year. in his final year he drove minnie to a 40win season which btw minnie hasn't even sniffed since and they might only now surpass. he played better at minnie. he just won more with cavs,,,and give some credit to irving for helping lebron win that ring. all-stars don't have to be enabled by other stars....they're already stars on their own merit.

geezus ferchristssake,give love some credit!!! look at aldridge, who was thought of in the same vein as love. he's had way more freedom to play his natural position while love has been circumcised and pidgeon-holed into someone he wasn't meant to be.[/quote]
Probably wrong to say "makes him better" since Love is the same player no matter where he plays. I just think that with a more of a passing point guard, it would better bring out his skills.

[HotRocks34]

Here is a near-direct quote from Zach Lowe from his podacast today. It's not a perfect quote, but it's almost exact. Lowe says this starting around 37:00 into the podcast. These are essentially my exact thoughts on Kyrie and his prospects (although to be fair, Lowe says Kyrie can evolve over time):

Podcast link
http://www.espn.com/espnradio/playPopup?id=20148555

"if you just put him in the Russell Westbrook situation last year where it's all about him, or even James Harden's situation, I think he'd do well and I think his teams would do 'ok.' But I think 'ok' is about all there is. Because he's an awful defensive player. He's all right when he tries...His passing to me is fascinating because I think he has the ability to be a good passer...but...he's never struck me as playing with the sort of timing and geometric creativity of James Harden...but people who know him and who work with the Cavs say that (great passing) is in his game, it's just not the way that he wants to play. He wants to score, he wants to make tough shots. He wants to do his 9,000-dribble moves...and he doesn't have the physical sort of...I mean, Russell Westbrook to do what he did over 82 games was unbelievable, and I don't think Kyrie Irving can physically do that. But, players change... I do think his game could evolve, where he just becomes a better all-around player...but, if he thinks he can go out there and shoot 26 times a game and everything is about him all the time, I do think he's in for a rude awakening."

Summary:

- Kyrie isn't Harden (although maybe he has some of that potential) ------> And D'Antoni won't be his coach
- Kyrie isn't Westbrook
- Kyrie wants to play Iso/Shoot Ball rather than pass more
- Kyrie likely in for a big wake up call if he goes to another team and becomes The Chuck Master

Implied but not directly stated:

- Kyrie isn't LeBron


Can the current version of Kyrie be Damian Lillard? Yeah, probably. Can he be John Wall? Maybe.

Is Kyrie, at his current development level, likely to be a lot more than that?

Probably not.

Is a Kyrie-led team likely to be any kind of threat to make the Finals?

Probably not.

So that's about where we're at, from my perspective.

Thus, Kyrie is giving up a sure-fire trip to the Finals next year, it would seem, to get a trade done from a team while he still has two years left on his current contract. Just to get away from LeBron. To a team we don't know (Kyrie not in control of where he goes), and possibly into a situation where making the Finals is not realistic and any long playoff run is probably also not realistic.

This is what the situation seems to be, and this (including the timing of it) is why people are asking: "What is Kyrie doing and how does Kyrie view himself as a player?"

[gino_giode]

He could. But he's not required to stay in a sham marriage just because Lebron's contract runs one more year. Not playing to Lebron's tune is kind of the whole point.

Then it's a bad decision, I would think.

The phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face" seems applicable here.

As I said earlier, the "Someone stood up to LeBron, yay!" crowd might love this move, but from a more objective standpoint it seems to make little sense. As Lowe said, Kyrie is going to get crushed for this. And he could end up on a non-contender where his brand suffers, as well.

If Kyrie waits even a year, as jbk said, he's in a much better position.

Doing this now feels rushed, and it makes Kyrie the "bad guy" when he could have avoided these complications.

Not letting LeBron control your fate is a great goal, if that's what you want, but destroying your leverage and image just to escape LeBron's control for one more season (or two at the most) might not be the best solution.

I think you're underestimating how strongly Kyrie now feels about LeBron. This is worse than Westbrook-KD, and possibly close to Shaq-Kobe.

This is probably not a smart move career wise, but it's an emotional decision that has to be made. I don't know whether you're arguing for Kyrie to smarten up or that it's a dumb move. I think many would agree it's a dumb move. But he's crossed that line and LeBron did in turn by leaking the info and establishing a narrative that Kyrie "devastated" him with the move (lol yeah right).

Kyrie is gonna hurt his image, his brand, and cheque book by doing this, but I believe finding out he was in trade talks and the LeBron was consulted on it was a stab in the back he couldn't handle.

I work in a lab surrounded by people I loath and every day is a challenge to motivate myself to do my work. Just being around them tests my nerves. I'm just saying from my own experience, it's too easy to say "he should suck it up and play out the year". If LeBron is taking the joy out of the game for him, it's best if they move on. I think asking to leave now was at least doing the front office a favor rather than let it fester and blow up during the season.

[MemphisX]

Fox has shown absolutely nothing to suggest he will ever reach Kyrie's level. If it happened, posters on this board would be shocked.

[HotRocks34]

I think you're underestimating how strongly Kyrie now feels about LeBron. This is worse than Westbrook-KD, and possibly close to Shaq-Kobe.

This is probably not a smart move career wise, but it's an emotional decision that has to be made. I don't know whether you're arguing for Kyrie to smarten up or that it's a dumb move. I think many would agree it's a dumb move. But he's crossed that line and LeBron did in turn by leaking the info and establishing a narrative that Kyrie "devastated" him with the move (lol yeah right).

Kyrie is gonna hurt his image, his brand, and cheque book by doing this, but I believe finding out he was in trade talks and the LeBron was consulted on it was a stab in the back he couldn't handle.

I work in a lab surrounded by people I loath and every day is a challenge to motivate myself to do my work. Just being around them tests my nerves. I'm just saying from my own experience, it's too easy to say "he should suck it up and play out the year". If LeBron is taking the joy out of the game for him, it's best if they move on. I think asking to leave now was at least doing the front office a favor rather than let it fester and blow up during the season.

Well said and if Kyrie really feels like this, it's probably best he does go.

What's odd to me is that, if I recall right, just like 5 weeks ago Kyrie was singing LeBron's praises.

If Kyrie honestly feels like he just can't take it any more, then I guess he's gotta go. Even if it might not be a great decision in the long term.

I know someone who is in a similar work situation as the one you're describing. This person is very emotional. So no matter what anyone says to them about sticking it out in the situation, every day is "I gotta leave that place."

It does happen. And maybe that's what took place here.

[gino_giode]

I think you're underestimating how strongly Kyrie now feels about LeBron. This is worse than Westbrook-KD, and possibly close to Shaq-Kobe.

This is probably not a smart move career wise, but it's an emotional decision that has to be made. I don't know whether you're arguing for Kyrie to smarten up or that it's a dumb move. I think many would agree it's a dumb move. But he's crossed that line and LeBron did in turn by leaking the info and establishing a narrative that Kyrie "devastated" him with the move (lol yeah right).

Kyrie is gonna hurt his image, his brand, and cheque book by doing this, but I believe finding out he was in trade talks and the LeBron was consulted on it was a stab in the back he couldn't handle.

I work in a lab surrounded by people I loath and every day is a challenge to motivate myself to do my work. Just being around them tests my nerves. I'm just saying from my own experience, it's too easy to say "he should suck it up and play out the year". If LeBron is taking the joy out of the game for him, it's best if they move on. I think asking to leave now was at least doing the front office a favor rather than let it fester and blow up during the season.

Well said and if Kyrie really feels like this, it's probably best he does go.

What's odd to me is that, if I recall right, just like 5 weeks ago Kyrie was singing LeBron's praises.

If Kyrie honestly feels like he just can't take it any more, then I guess he's gotta go. Even if it might not be a great decision in the long term.

I know someone who is in a similar work situation as the one you're describing. This person is very emotional. So no matter what anyone says to them about sticking it out in the situation, every day is "I gotta leave that place."

It does happen. And maybe that's what took place here.

Well again I think the straw that broke the camel's back was the pre-draft trade rumors. Perhaps there was some misunderstanding on Kyrie's part attributing Dan Gilbert's proposed trades with him as an indication of LeBron's intentions.

Maybe I'm wrong and assuming Kyrie doesn't want to play with LeBron, but it's more he doesn't want to play with the Cavs (who dissed him when many thought he was the only other untouchable besides Bron).

Either way, if you're working in that environment it drains you emotionally and you take it home with you. It could easily affect your work performance and focus too.

[JeepCSC]

No one thinks Kyrie is leading a team to the Finals in year one. Most people will think there is more to life than that. If Kyrie is happier away from Cleveland dysfunction, I think most would accept that even if they don't personally think they would have done it.

[turk3d]

I think Kyrie wants to go somewhere where he can be "the" star which I think is OK (not about winning with him, maybe he feels he has his ring). The problem I see however, is him getting injured, particularly now that he'll be having to carry most of the load for his new team.

Even though he had a relatively healthy year last year, he's proven to be a guy who is prone to injury and this won't bode well for him and the team he goes to. I imagine, in order to make a trade to work, he's going to have to relinquish his trade kicker, if not this may limit the number of teams who are willing to pull; the trigger or who can pull it.

[akhan786]

He could. But he's not required to stay in a sham marriage just because Lebron's contract runs one more year. Not playing to Lebron's tune is kind of the whole point.

Then it's a bad decision, I would think.

The phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face" seems applicable here.

As I said earlier, the "Someone stood up to LeBron, yay!" crowd might love this move, but from a more objective standpoint it seems to make little sense. As Lowe said, Kyrie is going to get crushed for this. And he could end up on a non-contender where his brand suffers, as well.

If Kyrie waits even a year, as jbk said, he's in a much better position.

Doing this now feels rushed, and it makes Kyrie the "bad guy" when he could have avoided these complications.

Not letting LeBron control your fate is a great goal, if that's what you want, but destroying your leverage and image just to escape LeBron's control for one more season (or two at the most) might not be the best solution.

I don't really get the rationale for this. How is he at all in a better situation a year from now after Lebron leaves and he's left with this aging roster that was built for Lebron? The Cavs are far less likely to want to trade Kyrie out the same year Lebron leaves, AND we just saw what happened with PG this summer of what happens when a player won't commit to resign to a team.

Kyrie has indicated that he struggles with being Robin, but I have no doubt in my mind that Kyrie would definitely be suiting up for the Cavs this season if Lebron had committed long term (especially if they nabbed PG too).

Is that Lebron's fault? No. He's the greatest player of our generation so of course everything has to revolve around him. But Kyrie isn't chopped liver. Actual NBA players and coaches believe he's a Top 10 talent (not necessarily Top 10 player) in the league (The GB makes it seem like he shouldn't even be an All-star). So he is a player I believe deserves to act rationally in his own self-interest. Lebron also deserves to act in his own self-interest so I won't be mad at all if he goes to LA next year.

Kyrie's about to start his prime. This Cavs team hasn't improved so chances are slim that a GSW team with a year under their built will lose this year. So no one is really going to beat them anyways. And next year, a Lebron-less Cavs team will always be playing under Lebron's shadow.

Why not let one of our Top 10 talents in the league who hasn't hit his prime yet make the jump to challenge himself to lead a legit team? Why not give him a shot jesus? Isn't that what we want? The exact opposite of this is what we just spent an entire year destroying KD for...

Let him try. It could be a lot of fun.

[Bobalob]

Kings draft 1 PG and traded down for two low ceiling players and now they ready to turn down Kyrie Irving

[Edrees]

While I dont think Fox will be as good as Irving, fox is the same age as all their young talent. Let them grow together, kyrie would decline by the time their core becomes high level nba players. It's the same reason I wouldn't trade Ingram for PG.

[Coachcavplaya23]

He could. But he's not required to stay in a sham marriage just because Lebron's contract runs one more year. Not playing to Lebron's tune is kind of the whole point.

Then it's a bad decision, I would think.

The phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face" seems applicable here.

As I said earlier, the "Someone stood up to LeBron, yay!" crowd might love this move, but from a more objective standpoint it seems to make little sense. As Lowe said, Kyrie is going to get crushed for this. And he could end up on a non-contender where his brand suffers, as well.

If Kyrie waits even a year, as jbk said, he's in a much better position.

Doing this now feels rushed, and it makes Kyrie the "bad guy" when he could have avoided these complications.

Not letting LeBron control your fate is a great goal, if that's what you want, but destroying your leverage and image just to escape LeBron's control for one more season (or two at the most) might not be the best solution.

Kyrie asked for a trade quietly and did not make any demands. Kyrie is not the bad guy in this situation. He didnt go to the media and he didnt say he wont resign with a team if traded too. Lebron is not commiting beyond this season and their roster is very questionable. It doesnt help that Lue is one of the worst coaches in the league and can not come up with a scheme to play to Kyrie and Love when Lebron is out.