The Cleveland Cavaliers have made three straight NBA Finals with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Here is why they should not trade their star point guard no matter his demands.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have never won an NBA championship without Kyrie Irving starting at point guard. That statement is both true and misses the truth that the franchise’s one title, in 2016, came on the back of LeBron James more than it did Kyrie Irving.
But the former Duke point guard and four-time All-Star was not a meaningless part of those Finals teams, but rather a talented scorer who could put the ball into the hoop in creative and unstoppable ways. Kyrie Irving is incredible at scoring the basketball.
Irving can also shoot, pass and cut to the rim. He is comfortable playing up-tempo, and he has also found a successful groove playing many minutes off-ball with James. In every sense of the word he is a versatile and dynamic offensive force.
His detractors will point to poor efficiency, or a lack of passing vision. When they get extra nasty — or perhaps extra honest — they point to his performance without LeBron:
Just gonna leave this here ... Cavs with Kyrie Irving ON, LeBron James OFF last season: -120 in 635 minutes.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) July 21, 2017
Kyrie Irving is also unhappy playing in Cleveland alongside LeBron James. He has made it clear to the team that he desires a trade to another team, one where he can be “the man.” That bombshell has the league and its fans reeling as they recalibrate to this new possibility.
As those on the inside discuss trade scenarios and those on the outside fire up the NBA Trade Machine, the Cleveland Cavaliers have to ask an important question: should they trade Kyrie Irving?
The answer to this question is clear: No, they should not trade Kyrie Irving. Here are five reasons why.