He is sick of LeBron’s Drama!
I’m sorry, but I don’t blame Irving, or any other teammate, coach, owner or fan that has had enough of the Prima Donna LeBron James mystery act.
To say James needs to go through the Free Agency Circus every couple of years because it is better leverage for him as a business man, is insane. The size of LeBron’s contract means nothing in the grand scheme of anything. Plain and simple, he does it because he can, and it effects everyone around him. Kyrie is fed up.
James loves the attention, he wants to keep everyone constantly worried and insecure he may leave them again. Who does that? Honestly, name me another athlete who puts his “home city” through so much stress and worry?
There is no reason why James couldn’t have flat out said, “I’m staying past this season.” As I write this, John Wall just resigned long term with the Washington Wizards, why can’t James make that kind of commitment?
The fact that he won’t, and does other things such as tweet out passive aggressive insults to his teammates infuriates them. James, for as talented as he is, is a constant walking distraction and source of drama.
Right now, right this very second, LeBron James can hop on his private jet, fly out to wherever Irving is in Tokyo and meet with him. Within 48 hours everything can be settled down and hashed out, but James won’t. It is beneath him in his mind.
Everyone called Kobe Bryant selfish when he asked for Shaq to be traded, but in the end, it worked out just fine for Kobe. He will still go down as one of the greatest players in NBA history, and he won two more titles after O’Neal left. There is no reason that the Cavaliers and Irving couldn’t do that if they kept Love, kept some other pieces and traded LeBron James.
It seems un-thinkable, but Cleveland really needs to take a step back and regroup, they need to trade James for a slew of great players and picks, and keep Irving. They won’t, because after all, it is James Kingdom.. For one more year at least until he leaves….
William naismith
July 22, 2017 at 12:48 am
You have nothing but negative pessimistic statements about James as if you have some personal animosity towards the guy. He has been very conscious of the duration of contracts and being noncommital not only with the Cavaliers but Miami Heat as well. He helped bring Jeff Green and worked to entice jamal crawford yet management was recalcitrant.
James is very well documented as he is a tireless worker true to his profession marvelously conditioned yet his uncertainty or apprehension of a long term contractual committment is one of his traits that is part of what motivates and drives him to greatness. Signing a long term deal may cause him to become complacent and lacksidasicalinstead of new challenges he seeks to keep him sharp efficient and motivated to succeed.
Jeff
July 24, 2017 at 9:29 am
You also forget that LeBron’s the reason that this team is in salary cap hell. They shelled out above-market prices to keep guys who were also his clients to keep him happy.
Facts can be a heck of a thing. Crawford didn’t sign here because of “management.” Crawford went elsewhere because he could get more than he could get here, period, because this team is strapped for cash.
Cavs management needs to sit both players down individually, starting with LeBron – if he won’t commit long-term, then they need to go public with that news, then sit down with Kyrie, explain that there’s one more year of this stupid childish drama to endure, and they’ll build around him.
Joe
July 22, 2017 at 5:48 am
Lebron can’t be traded he has a no trade clause in his contract
George Thayer
July 22, 2017 at 2:59 pm
Joe, Melo can’t be traded as he has a no trade clause in his contract. See how that works?
btw to William, I’d say this article is very good as it sheds light on issues that no others are talking about. I don’t know the author, but I at least read the article and make a determination that there’s at least the possibility this is true. He does state facts about Kyrie that most if not all the talking heads have missed so far.
To your point, James has been the best player on the planet, works extremely hard to be in great condition, but the thing about why he does it so he doesn’t get lazy is strange at best.