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LeBron 'eager to see Irving off' as Cavs offered new monster deal for Kyrie following Rose signing

Originally posted on The Sports Daily | By Jason Whitney | Last updated 7/26/17



Over the course of the past few days, the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise and their fans have experienced a feeling that the entire city has felt far too often when it has come to their sports teams. However, despite the gut-wrenching feeling The Land is experiencing with potentially losing one of the Association’s best young talents, the Cavaliers may have just positioned themselves to become a better team now, and, in the future.

The phone has undoubtedly been ringing off the hook at the LeBron James household general manager offices in Quicken Loans Arena as teams are gearing up to offer up their best packages for Uncle Drew. But Cleveland doesn’t have to jump on the first great offer for Kyrie Irving, With that said, if there is one team that exemplifies the adage “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” that would be the Cavaliers. Thus, don’t expect the Cavs to be gun-shy.

Now, to Monday’s events…

The signing of Derrick Rose wasn’t a surprise seeing that the Cavs were in the market for a backup point guard anyway. However, the signing of Rose to a poultry $2.1 million bones when other teams had better offers on the table showed that the Cleveland brass is ready to move on.

Derrick Rose and the Cavaliers agreed to a one-year deal for $2.1 million contract Monday after spending the day together, discussing how the team will return to the Finals without Kyrie Irving.

Details are slowly emerging, but it probably doesn’t take a hoops genius to figure out that Derrick Rose and the Cavaliers were discussing much more than painting a picture to Rose of the vital role he will be counted on in spelling Irving for 15 minutes a game. In fact, unless we are all taking the excerpt out of context here – highly unlikely – this would sound like the Cavs are banking on Rose to play an instrumental role as the team’s starting point guard. Oh, and the soon-to-be 29 year-old, Rose, dropped 18 points per game last year for the dysfunctional New York Knicks – ’nuff said.
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And that’s not all. LeBron James apparently has weighed in with his thoughts of Kyrie.

Joe Vardon, who wrote this article, is a trusted beat writer who covers the Cavaliers. His story indicates that Rose could start for Cleveland next season and that this may have been discussed when the two sides met on Monday.

It’s also particularly noteworthy to learn that James is “eager to see [Irving] off” as this would mean Rose is poised to play major minutes for the Cavaliers. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski adds that Rose was in communication with James before he signed with Cleveland.

I’d like to repeat that first line of the second paragraph again:

“It’s also particularly noteworthy to learn that James is “eager to see [Irving] off”

In addition to that statement, Rose was obviously in contact with Bron-Bron as the aforementioned excerpt notes via ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski – one of the best in the business.

Despite whatever you think of Rose, and his injury-prone career, his game and Kyrie’s game are not that far apart. While Kyrie is a better shooter, and, at this point of his career, an overall better offensive player, they both are very isolation heavy/similar players. Rose did show last season that he still has the explosiveness to get into the teeth of the defense and also finish around the rim.

Nobody would argue that swapping Rose for Irving is an upgrade, but if the subsequent monster trade that is reportedly being offered by the Phoenix Suns takes place, the Cavs might have closed the gap with the Golden State Warriors.

According to ESPN, the Suns would consider trading guard Eric Bledsoe, this year’s first-round draft pick Josh Jackson, and a future pick in exchange for Irving.

Adding Bledsoe and Jackson to a roster would make a lot of sense for the Cavs.

Bledsoe could either start alone, start alongside newly acquired guard Derrick Rose or come off the bench while Jackson would have James as a mentor at the wing position.

Eric Bledsoe is one of the most explosive athletes in the league who at 27 years-old is still under contract for the next two seasons making a very modest $14.5 and $15 million over each of the next two seasons. The knock on Bledsoe is that he, like Rose, is also injury-prone. In 66 games last season, Bledsoe dropped 21 points, dished out 6 dimes, and grabbed 5 boards a game. It’s also important to note that Bledsoe and LeBron are close friends.

Now to sound like an infomercial. “But that’s not all.”

In the proposed deal, the Cavaliers would be getting potentially the best player in this year’s loaded draft, Josh Jackson, AND a future draft pick. The details of the draft pick are unknown according to this report, but if it’s a future first-round draft pick, the Cavaliers would have even more options for the 2017-18 season and beyond.

Jackson has some similarities to a former number one pick the Cavaliers drafted a few years ago, Andrew Wiggins. While there are question marks in Jackson’s game, he should immediately become a defensive stopper even as a rookie. His athleticism is unquestionable and potential is as great as any young player in the NBA. Playing with LeBron would only enhance Jackson’s abilities while giving the Cavaliers another player to throw at a Kevin Durant – or Steph Curry.

Lastly, when you consider the Cavs still have players like Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, there is absolutely no reason to believe Cleveland wouldn’t be right back in the NBA Finals the next season. If the Cavs wanted to take a gamble, they always could trade Love or Thompson – in addition to the future draft pick they were to receive from the Suns in the previous aforementioned deal – and bring in another major piece they felt would put them over the top in a potential fourth straight meeting against the Golden State Warriors in next year’s NBA Finals.

The point is, Kyrie Irving’s trade demand might have not just saved the Cavaliers from returning to NBA purgatory following a potential LeBron James exit in the summer of 2018, but instead, set them up for many more years of success.


http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/l..._12740_24408085

Eric Bledsoe, Josh Jackson, a pick, and salary filler is about as good as the Cavs will get. I don't know if the Suns would be willing though.

Suns have reportedly told Jackson he won't be involved in any trades....but you never know how true that is.

Maybe Bledsoe and Booker? I doubt it. Plus more players on our end would need to be involved.

Just heard on the radio that two teams most likely to acquire Irving: Knicks and Clippers ... I hope we don't take a deal from either

Just heard on the radio that two teams most likely to acquire Irving: Knicks and Clippers ... I hope we don't take a deal from either

Maybe if the Clippers gave up DeAndre Jordan?

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-t...e-irving-trade/

This source says the Clips want to match Kyrie with BOTH Griffin and Jordan ... so who the HECK would they trade?

Regardless, I wouldn't want Jordan

Jordan would solve the Cavs biggest problem -- rim protection. He is a great defender who can switch on the pick and roll and protect the rim. But if what you said is true, that the Clippers don't want to include him, then I don't see a path to a trade with LA. They would basically be able to give the Cavs the same thing they got for Chris Paul. They could also trade Austin Rivers, but that's not happening for obvious reasons.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-t...e-irving-trade/

This source says the Clips want to match Kyrie with BOTH Griffin and Jordan ... so who the HECK would they trade?

Regardless, I wouldn't want Jordan

My issue isn't with Jordan's ability to defend the paint; he's very effective in that regard. He's also a good P&R guy, at least with Chris Paul. I just don't like the idea of losing a perimeter player and picking up a guy who can't play at times due to foul shooting and lack of offensive skill. Having TT, Love, and Jordan is prohibitive to play GS on both ends

If I were the Cavs I'd be looking to dump Thompson, Shumpert, and/or Smith on whoever wants Irving.

However, the signing of Rose to a poultry $2.1 million bones when other teams had better offers on the table showed that the Cleveland brass is ready to move on.

Man, the state of grammar in this country is abominable.



I guess that we are going to pay Rose with ..... chicken? How hard is it for these guys to have an editor check their work for mistakes like paltry/poultry?

I guess that we are going to pay Rose with ..... chicken?

Man, the state of grammar in this country is abominable.



I guess that we are going to pay Rose with ..... chicken? How hard is it for these guys to have an editor check their work for mistakes like paltry/poultry?

So what do you think the chances of Kryme will be here come training camp?

So what do you think the chances of Kryme will be here come training camp?

No idea. At this point, I just hope he isn't.

Why not?

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y7835csw

Or perhaps...

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y9u3cokt

[quote=leadtheway]although I'm not sure reconciliation is possible now. Maybe keeping him to the trade deadline will maximize the return investment though.

Teams want Kyrie Irving; the question is, 'How much?'
play
12:03 PM ET

Adrian WojnarowskiESPN


Throughout NBA front offices, there's a run on Kyrie Irving intel. As teams deliberate and deliver trade offers to the Cleveland Cavaliers, executives are pursuing insight into Irving's character and habits, his leadership and late nights. The calls are flooding ex-Cavaliers executives and teammates, USA Basketball officials and teammates, and shoe reps.

This hasn't been an exercise to decide whether teams want Irving. Most do. It's far more about these questions: How deeply do organizations want to invest in a trade for him? How much of a burden is he equipped to carry without LeBron James? And how much has he grown out of the immaturity of his early NBA seasons?

Irving is the most unique player to reach the trade market in years. He plays the most impactful position in the NBA, has reached three straight NBA Finals and hit the biggest shot in the biggest Game 7 in a decade. He has two years left until he can opt out of his contract into free agency. Irving is 25 years old and a four-time All-Star, and there's reason to believe he hasn't yet played the best basketball of his life.





James is responsible for the empowerment of the modern basketball superstar, and Irving is showing how well he has learned to dictate terms before they're dictated to him.

So far, these are among the teams who've made offers to the Cavaliers for Irving, league sources tell ESPN: The San Antonio Spurs, LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Miami Heat. There were approximately 20 teams that inquired with Cleveland upon the news of Irving's trade request, league sources said, but far fewer have registered legitimate proposals. More loom in the shadows, and many simply don't have the assets to make a deal happen.

The Cavaliers want a package that resembles the 2011 Nuggets-Knicks deal for Carmelo Anthony -- young players, win-now veterans and draft picks, league sources said. For new general manager Koby Altman, this is a textbook way to open trade discussions. But for now, most Irving suitors are using the Timberwolves-Bulls trade model for Jimmy Butler, a scaled-down model of Melo's rich return of assets.

Altman has shown himself to be savvy and deft, and his public and private posture has been to inspire belief that the Cavaliers feel no obligation to cave to Irving's trade request. The Cavaliers haven't ruled out bringing Irving to training camp. Nor have they ruled out starting the season with Irving and reaching the Dec. 15 date when free agents signed in the summer are eligible to be included in trades, league sources said. But most teams are dubious the Cavaliers will let themselves enter the chaotic circus atmosphere of Irving and James reporting to training camp together.

Among rival executives, there's empathy for Irving's trade request. They see shrewdness in the move to beat James out of Cleveland. Owner Dan Gilbert pushed out GM David Griffin. James refuses to commit to a Cavaliers future. Now, Irving wants control of his career, and a trade gives him a distinct path. He can try out a new team for two years and decide to re-sign for a five-year maximum contract -- or walk in free agency in 2019.

"I don't like him personally, but I hate playing against him. I'd trade a lot to get him."
An elite Eastern Conference point guard on Kyrie Irving

Altman and the Cavaliers haven't been overzealous on the phones. They've been deliberate in returning calls and canvassing for offers, trying to create the illusion that there's no urgency, no desperation. Whether it works to solicit more aggressive offers, they'll find out soon enough. By nature, Altman is a measured, unemotional pragmatist. Teams like talking to him, even if he has become more guarded in conversations since his promotion to GM. The freewheeling conversations that assistant GMs can have with each other typically become more muted upon becoming the top executive.

"I'll say this about [Altman]," one rival GM interested in Irving told ESPN. "He isn't overwhelmed. He's showing real poise."

Truth be told, the Cavaliers' trade talks have been buoyed with teams getting back better, if not perfect, reports on Irving's growth, league sources said. Among the consensus: Irving has a history of late nights and partying, but there's no trail of missed practices, bloodshot eyes or hungover shootarounds. Most intel has come back that he has curbed those tendencies into his mid-20s, picking his spots more wisely. As a teammate, Irving can be moody, but most agree he's ultimately invested. He hasn't always loved deferring to James on the Cavaliers, or Kevin Durant in USA Basketball. This is the Kobe Bryant inside of Irving, and that's part of the DNA that can be a blessing and a curse. Teams believe he's smart, savvy and, above all, they believe he's a winner.

"Go back through every team he's played on, talked to people involved or just study the results -- and it doesn't matter whether it was high school, college, USA development and national teams, and in the NBA -- and you see a pattern of him impacting winning," one Eastern Conference executive said. "There are questions about those first couple years before LeBron came back, but I think there were a lot of issues around there that were out of his control. That said, he didn't always help himself then either."
A half-dozen teams have made serious trade offers to the Cavaliers in an attempt to acquire Kyrie Irving. Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

An old teammate of Irving's told one Western Conference GM: "He's an animal. Forget whatever you hear about him off the court. Go get him."

An elite Eastern Conference point guard told another GM in pursuit of Irving: "I don't like him personally, but I hate playing against him. I'd trade a lot to get him."

Several suitors contend there are two teams with the best ability to make deals for Irving: the Suns and Boston Celtics. So far, the Suns are unwilling to include No. 4 overall pick Josh Jackson in a trade, league sources said. The Celtics are monitoring, but it's unclear how aggressive they'll get -- and how motivated the Cavaliers would be to make a deal with their fiercest conference rival.

The Heat are willing to part with Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow as centerpieces for an Irving trade, league sources said. With the Cleveland-Miami history, there's little chance for a deal unless the Heat offered an overwhelming package.

Gilbert may have unwittingly thrust pressure onto Altman during a Wednesday news conference, declaring "Indiana could've done better" in its trade package for Paul George. The Cavaliers have more leverage in a deal because Irving has two years on his contract to George's one.
Kyrie Irving demands trade

After six seasons and three Finals appearances, Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland and out from under LeBron James's shadow.

Indiana had Irving on its board as the No. 1 target for George, league sources said. The Pacers had a willingness to do a deal straight-up, but Cleveland declined several times, league sources said. What did nearly come together was a three-way trade that would've sent Kevin Love to Denver, Gary Harris to Indiana and George to the Cavaliers.

Here's where the deal fell apart, league sources said: Indiana wanted no protections on a future Cavaliers first-round pick. Cleveland balked, insisting the pick have lottery protection -- and Indiana moved onto the Oklahoma City package of Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

After the Boston-Brooklyn trade for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, unprotected picks are rarely, if ever, transferred in deals. Nevertheless, Cleveland turned down those deals before Irving's trade request, and now the landscape on a package for him becomes far more complicated.

The NBA has become a community in full scrutiny of Irving, a light that can be harsh in revelations. So far, Irving is standing up to it. The investment made in order to trade for him promises to be massive, and the process is well underway. How far do teams want to go for him? Who's Kyrie Irving without LeBron James? The answers promise to dictate the future of the Cleveland franchise, and even perhaps, the balance of power in the NBA.


http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20177...liers-value-him

Someone in LeBrons camp needs to leak that an unnamed source says Kyrie would probably resign with Pheonix if traded there...

Get this deal rollin..

I don't think Bledsoe, Jackson, and a pick is enough. You need an established star or a guy who is 90% established toward being a star e.g., Wiggins in return for guy of Irving's caliber.

I would be pretty upset if a deal like that went down.