Why Kyrie Irving wanting out is GOOD for LeBron James (& Kyrie Irving)

Nicholas Atwood
Aug 8, 2017 · 6 min read

About a month ago it became widely-known information that Kyrie Irving had made a request, in a meeting with Cavaliers-upper management, to be traded. Moreover, that one of the primary reasons for this desire was that he no longer wished to play alongside all-time NBA legend LeBron James.

Naturally, the media reacted, and naturally, I react to the media’s reaction. I’m basically the reason sports-media still exists at this point (my houses argument, not mine). Anyways, sparks flew everywhere, from Stephen A. Smith’s “LeBron would beat Kyrie’s ass if he were in front of him” blasphemy, to Bill Simmons’ and The Ringer’s “The LeBron-Kyrie Conspiracy” where they each state their belief in the idea that this whole saga is a contrived beef derived from LeBron being fed up with Dan Gilbert‘s inability to run an NBA franchise, warning Kyrie in advance to get out while he can, all while turning it into a story that lowers expectations for the Cavs in the short run, thus alleviating pressure off of both of them until they’re each in a new situation in which their teams are moving forward, not backward.

I’ve got to admit that this conspiracy theory makes a whole lot of sense. We know LeBron can’t stand Dan Gilbert, and that he did love now former-Cavs GM David Griffin. We know the relationship between Kyrie and LeBron has been rocky, but also one of mutual respect and growth. One could easily make the argument that both LeBron and Kyrie despise Gilbert far more than each other, because, well, they should. These two never hated each other, so why would Kyrie just decide to not only say that he wanted out, but lament James as the primary reason why? It just doesn’t make sense.

What would make sense is these guys meeting up, counting some money, and plotting how to keep themselves relevant for the next 7–10+ years, respectively. It makes sense to me that these two would both want what’s best for each other, because while they may recognize that they’re not what’s best for one another anymore, their basketball-marriage ultimately resulted in the King delivering on his promise to bring a title to Believeland.. a place where guys like Dan Gilbert have made the mere idea of that feel impossible.

Why people think it’s more conceivable that these two actually hate each other is beyond me, but in my humble opinion, I will choose to believe that they both recognize what a lot of the mainstream media has failed to report on; this move will benefit both of their careers.

It’s hard to see it now, because there’s no clear-cut path for either of these two ending up on a better roster this upcoming year, than the roster they would make up by staying put, together. But Basketball’s changing, and already has changed. Cavalier and LeBron apologists will argue that this teams core was a Kyrie/K-Love injury away from having beat the Warriors two out of the last three years, when in reality, the injuries these stars faced are far more realistic than the once in a lifetime comeback we all witnessed LeBron James pull off in the 2016 NBA Finals. The sole reason the Warriors haven’t three-peated.

Add in Kevin Durant, a couple of great screeners/rim protectors, and you now have the new standard of the NBA. NOT a LeBron James led, Big-3 style roster. The new NBA is all about sharing, and compiling stars who are just as capable on offense as they are on defense, and as capable and useful off the ball as they are when they’re in possession. There are no more “role” players in todays NBA. Just ask Doc Rivers how far the Clippers have gone .. ever. Look at the difference between guys like Tristian Thompson and Draymond Green.

The proof is in the pudding, they’re each the fourth best player on their respective rosters, and the differences in their games is a perfect representation of how today’s NBA is different from the 2014 and prior NBA. While Tristian Thompson is a rebound gobbler, all NBA tough-guy, garbage man type player, who would’ve been suited for any era of NBA basketball prior to this one, all of his areas of weaknesses are areas of strength for for his counterpart, Draymond Green. Green can guard on the perimeter, demands his own attention on the perimeter offensively, is an elite passer, can run the point, and is one of the most interchangeable players in the league. Tristian, while being great at his specific role, simply can’t offer those same tools, and because of this, causes a huge void in the Cavaliers lineup when the Warriors choose to play Green at Center and Durant at Power Forward, because the Cavaliers can no longer play Love and Thompson on the court together.

LeBron and Kyrie both understand this is the problem. They’re neither stupid, nor careless enough to not, and through this, likely understand that their chances of beating this Warriors team as constructed is effectively non existent. They also very likely understand that it’s not because of each other, but because of their franchises ineptitude to see this coming, and have a viable solution. The ignorance of the Cavaliers-upper management will only serve to plague both LeBron and Kyrie’s careers the longer they stay put. The Cavaliers are a ticking time bomb, and they both deserve a better scenario than the one they’re currently in.

With all of this being said, these are still two of the leagues best players, and while one is still rising, and the other is reaching his peak, they BOTH have the opportunity to have success in their future, so long as they divorce themselves from their mutual-marriage to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The fact that this means they will end up on separate teams is beside the point. No player in the league is ever truly married to another player. They’re married to the organization that provides them with millions of dollars as well as the opportunity to live out their dream of playing professional basketball. Players do have a level of leverage, and LeBron has served as the primary example of the new-standard balance of power between team and player.

While the mainstream media has decided to focus on the idea of LeBron and Kyrie fighting for power of choice in where they end up, to the point of Kyrie wanting to play anywhere but Cleveland, I choose to see it more as Kyrie understanding that leaving Cleveland right now increases his future leverage on deciding where he can play, and is simply trying to use these years of Warriors dominance as a chance to begin building an empire of his own, not going down with the ship that he see’s his own Captain jumping off the side of.

Again, this doesn’t mean that LeBron James and Kyrie hate each other. It also doesn’t mean that they’re giving up on each other. It means they’re giving up on the organization that has set them up with a system that isn’t built to succeed. There is no prize for blind allegiance and pride in the NBA, only for taking pride in your own intelligence to the point of actually making the right decision for later, not only now. Just ask Kevin Durant.

The departure from Cleveland will mean a fresh start for both of these players. LeBron James will turn thirty-three in December, and with his next move will likely be deferring a certain level of responsibility to another slew of stars, likely a group more fit to succeed in the current NBA landscape. The Ringer’s LeBron/Wall/Boogie/PG13-to-the-Lakers conspiracy is conceivable, as LeBron James has never made a move in his career that hasn’t resulted in a MAJOR shakeup in league power. I don’t expect that trend to change just yet.

Kyrie is turning twenty-six this upcoming March, and has already proven his on-ball eliteness on the highest stage of NBA competition. Whichever team gains Kyrie Irving will be gaining the leagues best-ball handler, and killer-instinct point guard who looks up to Kobe Bryant as his basketball-role model. He’s not quite the all-around player that will automatically turn a team into a contender, but he is a guy a franchise can build around.

Whether your a fan of these guys or not, an objective view of the big-picture shows a franchise with no history of making the right choice. A franchise that’s managed one title in eleven seasons with the LeBron James at the helm. LeBron went to the Heat for four years, and won two championships. There’s reason to believe that both of these guys can be a center-piece for a team with competent management, because they’ve already been the center-piece for a championship team that lacked it. Expect both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to emerge in important NBA games with new teams. Soon!

SportsRaid

Original reporting and curated sports data journalism. Actively looking for additional writers.

Nicholas Atwood

Written by

Sports Writer/Analyst

SportsRaid

Original reporting and curated sports data journalism. Actively looking for additional writers.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade