Could the Cleveland Cavaliers lose Kyrie Irving?
This seems to be a recurring conversation.
On January 31st, nearly four weeks ago, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst published a story regarding Kyrie Irving’s future and upcoming contract negotiations with the Cavaliers this summer.
Windhorst, a former Cavaliers beat-writer, brought several issues between Irving and the Cavaliers organization to light, essentially shifting Irving’s early career narrative from boy wonder to superstar diva. From his January 31st column titled “Kyrie’s cloudy future in Cleveland”:
There has been chatter among league executives, agents and even fellow players about Irving’s unhappiness for awhile now. He has downplayed those whispers and did so again after a lopsided Cavs loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday when he said: “I’m pretty sure I’m going to be here for a long time.”
But that is not going to stop anything.
Irving’s halfhearted non-denials — “I’m in Cleveland now,” he said for the second time in the past year to try to dampen rumors — are not as strong as what has been spreading in the league about Irving’s mindset.
Irving is reaching a crucial point and he and his support system realize it. This summer the Cavs can offer him a contract extension. Between now and then Irving is going to have the most leverage he has had in his career to this point. It seems like he intends to use it.
Windy, as he’s known in Cavalier fan circles, proceeded to lay out the path Irving would have to take to make his way out of Cleveland, the likely ramifications and what his negotiating leverage may look like. He noted the complete and utter disfunction within the Cavs locker room and the growing rift between Irving and Dion Waiters and the Cavs inability to surround him with talent.
Coming off an embarrassing 30-point loss to the New York Knicks and in the midst of losing eight of nine, things were not looking good in Cleveland.
A bevy of “Kyrie wants out” of Cleveland articles were to follow, eventually leading to Cavaliers GM Chris Grant being fired. Obviously this had more to do with his a few too many questionable decisions over the last four years, but something had to change.
Four weeks later, coming off a six-game winning streak, noticeably improved morale and a successful All-Star weekend for both Irving and Waiters, who have, like the rest of the team, shown an improved camaraderie and friendship, Windhorst has another front page story on ESPN titled “Could the Cavaliers lose Kyrie Irving?”
Despite the improved play, recent win streak and obvious commitment to righting the ship, it’s more of the same from Windhorst. He harps on the same negative points from a month ago, the poor roster construction and outlines Irving’s path to what ESPN seems to see as freedom.
And while Irving has said all the right things about staying put in public, it’s no secret that Irving’s camp has been making it known for years now the point guard would like to be elsewhere long term. No matter how much he denies it.
Just how strongly Irving feels about it could rise to the forefront soon. Though the Cavs recently went on a six-game win streak, their schedule the rest of the season is brutal. In March, Cleveland, now 22-35 and five games out of a spot in the postseason, plays the Grizzlies, Spurs, Clippers, Suns, Warriors, Heat, Thunder, Rockets, Raptors and Pacers.
The season may be another lost one for Irving and the Cavs, which means the clock on his impending decision will likely begin sooner than later.
Despite the Cavaliers concerted efforts to turn their season around, starting with Irving, it’s difficult to find the difference between stories.
That’s because there is no new information on February 25th than there was on January 31st.
It’s the same narrative recycled in a different order.
Yet, this story was flanked with another titled “Irving’s options” and a poll titled “stay or go.”
Windhorst is an excellent journalist, and one that has always had the story right. He worked his way from the Akron Beacon Journal to the headline reporter for the Miami Heat and NBA at ESPN. That’s due to a track record of excellent work. And to be fair, some of his criticisms of Irving are well deserved and entirely accurate. But the need to rehash this media frenzy that Irving and the Cavaliers had to battle over the course of the last few weeks seems forced, and quite frankly, unnecessary.
Again, there is absolutely no new information in Tuesday’s column. From January 31st:
The last thing the Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans need is drama with their franchise player and his future. But that is starting to appear unavoidable with Kyrie Irving, who can expect to see himself involved in rumors for at least the next six months.
Windhorst is absolutely right: the last thing the Cavaliers and their fans need is drama with their franchise player.
So with no new information in play, why are we still talking about this?
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