The recent trade request from Kyrie Irving has led to speculation that the Cleveland Cavaliers should trade LeBron James instead. Here is why they cannot afford to do so.
The ripples are still flowing throughout the NBA with the news that Kyrie Irving reportedly wants to be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers have essentially two options with Irving: they can either trade him, or balk at his request and attempt to mend the relationship.
There is hope for the latter considering Kobe Bryant went on to finish his career with the Los Angeles Lakers after very publicly demanding a trade once. Regardless of their situation and lack of options, one thing the Cleveland Cavaliers should not even consider is trading LeBron James.
Since returning to Cleveland, LeBron has strategically signed short-term contracts that allow him the flexibility to opt out after one year. While the flexibility of these contracts can be financially beneficial during negotiations with other free agents, their short-term nature does not offer assurances that James will be present for the long haul.
It is the uncertainty surrounding LeBron James and his willingness to stay in Cleveland long-term that has led to a previously unthinkable scenario in which the Cavaliers could trade away their franchise player and savior.
However, LeBron is one of only three players, along with Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony, to possess a no-trade clause, and reports are that LeBron is completely uninterested in waiving that clause even though he could essentially choose any destination that he desires.
King James Gospel
Even if LeBron has a sudden change of heart and allows the Cavaliers to start seeking trade partners, they should resist that temptation. Trading LeBron James would go down in sports lore as the basketball equivalent of the Boston Red Sox trading Babe Ruth, or the Edmonton Oilers trading Wayne Gretzky.
Trading LeBron James would immediately eclipse “The Decision” and the “The Letter” as the ugliest mark in the relationship between James and the Cavs. Undoubtedly, it would share the same basic moniker as Gretzky’s transaction, “The Trade.”
Fans would not be gathering in the streets to burn replica suits and other Dan Gilbert attire, but the backlash would be unprecedented. The Cleveland Cavaliers would be trading away the only player to lead a Cleveland sports franchise to a championship in over half a century. They would be trading away a local Ohio talent, one who fell into their arms during the 2003 NBA Draft.
There is no haul of players and assets that would ever truly match the value that LeBron James brings to the court or community. The Cavaliers suffered tremendously after LeBron took his talents to South Beach and won two titles with the Heat. Generally overlooked, though, is the fact that LeBron agreed to a sign-and-trade deal which compensated the Cavaliers with future assets.
The threat of losing LeBron with zero compensation after the 2018 season is understandably a frightening thought for Cavs fans. However, the repercussions of a potential trade of LeBron James should be equally as frightening.
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Luring free agents to Cleveland would become an even more difficult task after shipping away an all-time great. It is also difficult to envision the community rallying behind the Cavs after such a move by management. With the cumulative damage to the fanbase and player perception, there would be no coming back from trading LeBron James.