DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cavs/NBA Off-Season Discussion

It seems as if Irving is more made at the organization than he is at LeBron. LeBron is just an excuse.

If that is indeed the case different story, then it's suck it up buttercup and play out your contract. But if has a true beef with lebron, then it would be in the best interest of club i think to hold on to Kyrie

It seems to be both, with the organization having more than 50% of the blame.

Also, telling Irving to suck it up is great. But if he is going to leave after his contract, you might as well trade him now and get the most possible back. The worst possible situation would be to be stuck like the Pacers were with Paul George.

for sure..you almost wonder what goes on with these people passing up the chance to sign a supermax contract because their feelings get hurt...man ego is a powerful thing

I agree w/GM and jfan.

Kyrie is under contract. The team has been to three straight Finals and won a championship. The owner pays more in salaries than anyone in the league [at least that was true last time I checked.]

Kyrie is acting like a pouting punk. If I were the Cavs, I would not trade him! Screw him and his selfish demands.

I think Kyrie is just mad about the reports that the Cavs are trying to sign Derek Rose.

If I was the Cavs I would trade Irving to New Orleans for DeMarcus Cousins. There is nothing the Cavs can do to match the Warriors offensive fire power but the Warriors would not be able to stop Boogie down low. He is also a rebound machine.

Then I would trade Kevin Love to New York for Carmello Anthony. Older but still a dynamic scorer.

The starting line up could be

PG - Derek Rose
SG - Kyle Korver
SF - Carmello Anthony
PF - LeBron James
C - DeMarcus Cousins

You don't start Derek Rose in his current condition. He's made of plastic.

Report: Kyrie wants more touches, special treatment like LeBron
https://www.thescore.com/news/1337760


Kyrie Irving is done playing second fiddle.

The four-time All-Star reportedly asked the Cleveland Cavaliers to trade him, and one of the major reasons cited is he doesn't want to play with LeBron James anymore.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Dave McMenamin, and Brian Windhorst elaborated on the nature of James and Irving's relationship, indicating James' tendency to dominate the ball left the 25-year-old point guard feeling underutilized and yearning for more touches, even though he led the team in shot attempts and usage rate last season.


The issues aren't limited to the hardwood, either, as Irving is believed to be jealous of the special treatment James receives from the organization. For instance, some of the four-time MVP's associates are permitted to work for and travel with the team, while Irving's close friends cannot.

The dynamic scoring guard - who averaged a career-high 25.2 points in 2016-17 - wants to be the No. 1 option on a squad like Damian Lillard and John Wall are for the Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards, respectively. That was his expectation when he inked a five-year extension in 2014, but James announced he was re-joining his hometown club just a few days later.


ESPN's sources also indicated the two Cavaliers stars had several lengthy and intense discussions last postseason before they were ousted by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. The All-Star duo planned to hash things out at the conclusion of the campaign, but they didn't.

So, following a third consecutive Finals appearance, Irving told Cavs owner Dan Gilbert he wants out, and listed the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Minnesota Timberwolves as his preferred trade destinations.


Any team hoping to snatch him up should be prepared to give him the reins to the franchise.

Walk your talk, Kyrie.

Also, we don't get to this wacky situation with a level headed owner. Gilbert needs to sell the team.

bruh i thought i was the only one who died at this.

he must want russell westbrook sort of touches.

the problem is when it comes to being a PG, he isn't westbrook. nowhere close.

I don't know what to make of this. I've alternately blamed LeBron and Kyrie, with my latest feelings that the root of it all is LeBron.

I still feel that way. However, it sounds like Kyrie has a lot of growing up to do still. Just gaining personal maturity that only comes with time and age.

What a mess. We have a dynamic, compete for a championship every year team, and guys can't put their egos aside. Meanwhile in GS, MVPs are taking backseats and putting egos aside to keep on winning.

I know it's been an awesome ride the last three years, but I can still confidently say it sucks to be a Cleveland fan.

Fixed it for you.

Other than letting Grif walk, what can Dan do? Remember, he's the one that wrote the checks for the luxury tax so we could have the high powered team we have.

Wasn't Irving " THE MAN " when LBJ left for the Heat, He would score at will and we finished with a horrible record every season, I would trade him to the Kings or the Jazz and he can score 45 a game and miss the playoffs every year.

Good post. No one can actually be serious in bashing Gilbert. They are either a person who hates the Cavs and likes to get digs in [we have one of those] or someone trying to stir things up [I think we have one of those.]

I don't know if Gilbert is a great, good, or okay owner.........but, the guy has spent more money than anyone trying to win.

He doesn't just talk a good game like the crook, Haslam. Gilbert actually walks a good game.

It sounds to me like Robin might be a bit jealous of Batman?

...Or Robin wants to be Batman.

Report: LeBron won't waive no-trade clause
https://www.thescore.com/news/1337964

One way or another, LeBron James' second tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers is going to end on his terms.

Despite news that star teammate Kyrie Irving has pushed the front office to trade him, James will reportedly not consider waiving his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a move away from the tumultuous franchise, according to ESPN's Chris Haynes.

James has a player option for the 2018-19 season that would pay him upward of $35.6 million, but with relationships fraying between Irving, the front office, and team owner Dan Gilbert, the four-time MVP and Akron, Ohio native could opt to decline that option to become an unrestricted free agent, effectively leaving the Cavaliers with nothing if he signs elsewhere next summer.

James has averaged 25.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game since rejoining the Cavaliers at the start of the 2014-15 season.

tonight on as the world turns, it appears kyrie believes Lebron is the one who leaked the trade request

Why do we have to have all the drama in Cleveland?

Because Cleveland wants a Soap, and Hot In Cleveland, and The Drew Carey Show wasnt good enough.

Only sports drama works.


They should seriously start a sports radio show based in Cleveland as a sitcom. It would work. Endless misery sets up comedy.

A good owner smooths out relationships, finds ways to work with people, and quells any sort of distinction.

Check my receipts of Haslam, too. He meddles too much.

Yeah....I know. Just wish for one, maybe even two sports seasons we were so dominant in one of our three major sports that no one expected us to lose and no one wanted to leave and were willing to take pay cuts to keep teams together to create something historically special.

'course, if that happens the end of the world can't be that far off.

Most owners don't have to deal with someone as singularly talented (and aware of it as Lebron) when trying to put out fires.

I'm pretty sure I speak for most when I say that Gilbert would at least expect that if he's shelling out the kind of cash he is then those who are getting it ought to be thankful enough to A-Get that cash and B-be professional adults and try to work together in order to achieve success. Even if he's not the best at coddling multi-millionaires.

Just think ... The Dolans are probably considered the city's best owners right now.

Ego central here, TT running around with kk draped in furs. Irving and LBJ Being whinny divas, That's why GS is where they are and we are where we are. Too much drama to even like or root for these guys.

I wonder if we can talk Gilbert into buying Chief Wahoo jerseys for all of your students.

I wonder if you could talk Haslam into showing the students of Cleveland Municipal School district minstrel shows.

I could give it a shot

Please don't.

LeBron had a 'Heavy Heart' after Kyrie Irving's trade request shocked the NBA

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/lebron-meek...-212607613.html

troll level: expert.

Okay, after a few days of sifting through news on this and thinking about it, here's a few notes:

1) I wonder how much of the "Cavs Drama" is Kyrie related? Everybody wanted to pin things on Lebron before, because he made it sound like he was considering leaving. Could it be that he and Kyrie haven't been getting along for awhile now? Could it be that they both realized that this "Super Max" deal may only be available for one of them in the future, so there has been a bit of a power struggle between the two where it has come down to, "It has to be either him or me" at some point?

2) To that effect, from what I've read, Kyrie was a big Griff guy. I've read that Griff was a big reason he signed his extension back in 2014. Now for some serious speculations ... Could it be that we had an offer to trade Kyrie for PG13 and Griff wouldn't sign off on it? Could that of resulted in Gilbert not resigning Griff because that deal fell through? Could that in turn causd Kyrie to tell Jimmy Butler not to take a trade to Cleveland because of the Front Office situation? (Butler and Irving are buds and Butler is currently trying to get Irving into Minnesota now.) Then after all that, Irving requests to get traded? It seems a lot of that would make the off-season madness make a little bit more sense.

3) Thank you from the bottom of my fandom for hitting "that shot" Kyrie. That said, if we can get full value for Kyrie, we might actually put ourselves in a better position. Kyrie is probably one of the best cold-blooded, one-on-one players ever to play. However, outside of that, he's still pretty one dimensional. He doesn't play defense, he doesn't pass well, he doesn't make team-mates better, he seems to only want to run ISO and he's also injury prone. Could you imagine swapping him for a true point-guard? Someone like Mike Conley? Would the team as a whole improve?

I'm so over this group, always moaning and groaning , pay me more, sign my buddy now !!, sign over the hill players. They are never happy, We got our 1 title so dump them all and get young hungry players who leave their egos at the door.

Yeah, GS has players willing to take pay cuts, we have players that will hold out until they get paid...

There's just too much drama with this team, especially right now, that it's hard to even find the "guts" or will to want to read or follow along. You'd think with a team that has made it to the finals time after time, there wouldn't be these situations and etc. This would be a place that stars would flock to come and stars would love to stay.

I'll take our one title, which was absolutely phenomenal and let this team make their way onto the Jerry Springer show or something.

JC

As has been stated here a few times, it's no joke... this franchise is a complete soap opera. Kyrie is a superstar but has always seemed to be pretty humble. I think the narrative that he is a selfish pos is wrong. He's tired of being pat on the head by LeBron, he's sick of being little brother, he's sick of being blamed when things don't go right (he's not a 'real' PG, his defense sucks, etc...) He's 24 and knows the future is bright for him and is the first player to have the guts to openly say he's tired of LBJ's antics.

There is no traditional structure in Cleveland... LeBron trumps any semblance of order. LeBron calls the shots or openly ignores every coach he's ever had. He wants everyone clinging to the hope that he'll be happy enough to "stay" at all times. Every GM has one primary concern - keeping him happy. He has special privileges, special rules and dictates how everything happens to the rest of the franchise. Griffin is gone because egomaniac #2 (Gilbert) could never get him to put LBJ in his place. The closest he came was firing Blatt just when LBJ was really starting to enjoy having him as his "whipping boy". James has basically chosen every player and coach and is surrounded by his entourage of "yes men". That said, he's one of the top 5 talents in NBA history. Does he deserve such power? Everyone has their own opinion... I think most of the players that stick by his side see it as the only option to get to the promised land. I think it is a lot easier (and probably a lot more fun) if you are more of a "role player". The scrutiny and pressure on players like Love and Kyrie has got to be nearly unbearable at times... and sadly, I think LBJ does a lot to exacerbate the situation. Kyrie is young enough and "dumb enough" to realize he doesn't need him.

Something happened after the season. Kyrie wanting to leave now makes no real sense on the surface. I think he wants people to know that playing with James is no walk in the park and is hoping others will speak up and validate his decision. There is so much drama surrounding "all things James" that many of us ignore the fact that it has been said many times in the past... By Shaq, by his good friend Chris Bosch, by numerous role players. James demands but James is seldom accountable. Sure, he blames himself in a post game press conference but that's only to maintain innocence... behind closed doors it's a different ballgame. I think Kyrie thinks (right or wrong) that the grass is much greener where blame is shared and there are seldom fingers pointed.

I don't hate LBJ. Truth be told, he is not only a transcendent athlete but business man as well. Sadly, I don't think most of it is all that good for the game of basketball. I'll miss Kyrie, he's honestly my favorite Cav of all time.

Like sand through the hourglass...

Can't wait till we trade Kyrie and probably Love this offseason..

And then GS gets hit with the injury bug and loses to Houston. Who loses to The Wizards in the Finals...

Something something Cleveland sports.

j/c:

There is a lot of negative talk surrounding the Cavs on this board. I haven't given up on them yet and it galls me that people are always talking up the Browns [who won 1 freaking game] and bad-mouthing a team that went to three straight Finals.

Uh, the team that's gone to the Finals is imploding before our eyes, and the team with one win is at least building towards something. It's all about what the future looks like, and the Cavs future seems to be getting bleaker by the minute.

So, those 3 appearances don't count?

Are you already writing off next year?

Look, we all have our opinions, but I don't think the Cavs deserve to be bashed more than the Browns. That's simply my opinion.

I may be way off base, but I think Lebron's persona really wears on teammates. It's happened numerous cases (Chris Bosh even alluded to it) over his career