Days after reports surfaced late last month that point guard Kyrie Irving had met with Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and requested a trade, a person with ties to Irving made the following observation to this reporter:
“Kyrie is looking out for his future,” he plausibly shared. “He knows it’s a strong possibility LeBron will leave [the Cavaliers] next summer, so he doesn’t want to be stuck with a team that was built by and around LeBron.”
When I asked about unsubstantiated reports of Kyrie having personal issues with LeBron, he shrugged and said, “Those things happen sometimes when you have two huge stars. I really don’t know what’s going on between them. Whatever is going on, Cleveland got to three straight Finals and will probably get to a fourth if Kyrie winds up staying.”
If either makes it back to the Finals—it would be the eight consecutive trip for James—they won’t do it together. Tuesday night, the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics agreed to a trade that has begun a new chapter of drama in the Eastern Conference if not the entire NBA.
Irving, with two years left on his contract, was moved to Boston in exchange for All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round draft pick. Irving now joins a roster flush with exceptional young talent and a franchise still holding multiple first-round picks over the next two drafts. But he exits a team with the world’s best player in James that remains the prohibitive favorite to win the East again.
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is one of the shrewdest executives in the sport. However, giving up so many key pieces, including the draft pick, for a single player that ostensibly doesn’t elevate the Celtics to the top conference is dubious. The trade didn’t sway Las Vegas odds makers toward the Celtics, either. They have the Cavaliers installed as 4-1 to win the 2018 NBA championship and the Celtics 10-1. The Golden State Warriors are an overwhelming favorite at 5-11.
Irving’s true desire to part with the Cavaliers might forever remain unspoken. But if he wanted one more chance to face to the Warriors—as sure a bet to win the West as there has ever been, barring major injuries—in the Finals, then staying with James seemingly was the most reasonable course of action for the 25-year-old from West Orange, N.J., whose father, Drederick Irving, one of Boston University’s all-time great players, is from the Bronx.
Similar to Kobe Bryant forcing a breakup between himself and Shaquille O’Neal when the Los Angeles Lakers were fixtures in the NBA Finals, only time will tell if Irving has made a smart career decision.