phrazbit wrote:I want some people to be honest with themselves here.
Take Bledsoe and (probably) Jackson off the team, put Kyrie on. Does that team compete? Is that team even a playoff team? Even if you really really like Kyrie the answer to the first question is heeeeeeell no, the answer to the 2nd is; probably not.
If you trade for him... that is you're team. The idea that he is going to lure another star is really far fetched for a lot of reasons. Chief of them being a superstar isn't going to be eager to join a 35 win team being led by a guy who shots 20 times per game and just forced his way off a title contender because his top 5 usage rate wasn't enough for his liking.
Also, I say probably Jackson because I doubt Cleveland has any interest at all in Warren. Cleveland will not be keen on dropping 15 mil (over 30 mil with their lux tax) to keep him next summer.
I don't think other players necessarily view this as him not getting the fame or usage he wants. I think most players realize Lebron is priming the team to bail and Irving wanting out before the dumpster is set on fire seems completely fair. I don't think these stars that are all demanding trades are going to look down on Irving for demanding a trade.
And I also don't think it's fair to simply say we won't compete right away if we get him so what's the point. By that logic we never should have traded for Bledsoe in the first place. And the Suns don't appear to have any interest in trading Jackson. Otherwise the trade would already be complete I feel. I think its a matter of would you rather resign Bledsoe and Warren to large contracts and hope our current youth turns into stars(while also having to find a way to pay them all), or would you rather consolidate a few pieces to get an upgrade at PG. Despite what people are saying in this thread, Irving IS an upgrade over Bledsoe. Talentwise at least. Despite his short comings he's still the better player. Now arguing that he doesn't fit our team make-up is completely fair and valid.
I personally would probably rather not get Irving but try to facilitate (while sending Bledsoe to Cleveland) a trade that nets us a young PG that fits our rosters timeline.
