The NBA and the summer of Insanity

Matt Alcock
Jul 23, 2017 · 3 min read
Could Kyrie’s time in Cleveland be numbered?

This is supposed to be the off-season and the NBA circus wheel is still turning. The league is still dominating the headlines even though the Warriors winning was only on June 12. Thanks to players like LeBron James, the NBA has managed to keep the league relevant and a hot topic for 11 months of the year. This culminated on Friday when reports broke that All-Star Guard Kyrie Irving asked to be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers at some point during a meeting in the past few weeks. This sent the NBA Twitter world into meltdown and shook fans and players alike. Then came the hundreds of the Cavs bandwagon fan meme’s to rub salt in the wounds to make matters worse.

This supposedly completely blindsided The King LeBron James. He is reportedly ‘Devastated’ by the news. He was banking on the Cavs making another run at another Finals trip and a possible Championship. Uncle Drew has other ideas by the sounds of it. He no longer wants to be LeBron’s sidekick. He wants to be a franchise player and the focal point of the offense. Don’t forget, Irving signed his extension with Cleveland before he knew James was making his much published return to Cleveland. Would he have re-signed if he knew The King was returning?

I can understand Kyrie’s decision though, he’s 25 years old and entering his prime. I can imagine he doesn’t want to be in LeBron’s shadow for potentially another 2 to 3 years. Like any good sidekick in NBA history, they want to forge their own path, create their own legacy. Kyrie just wants that. Can you simply switch it on and become Batman when you spend 90% of the time being Robin?

There’s always the chance that Irving and the Cavs can work it out this summer and he commits long term. He has 2 years left on his current deal. Also if you believe the rumours, LeBron James is considering jumping ship heading to L.A. this would leave Kyrie where he thought he would have been 3 years ago, the main man in Cleveland. All of this would be easier if the Cavs had a GM to re-assure everyone about Cleveland’s plans are moving forward. But they as of yet have not employed a replacement for the departing David Griffin. Not to mention the fact that the Cavs has missed out on all key free agents this summer. Players like Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward and Paul George have all found new homes in the past month; none of them are coming to Cleveland.

Maybe Cavs owner Dan Gilbert doesn’t want to keep paying the forever sky rocketing luxury tax. Is he happy with just winning that one Championship 2 years ago? Does he think that LeBron is going to leave in 12 months and is thinking about a rebuilding? This summer has been one of turmoil for the Cavs; worst part is that the summer isn’t over.

I write about NBA and other stuff, my opinions are my own.

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