King James Gospel
Fansided

The Cavaliers are preparing for life after LeBron James

By Da'Reon Sevanell

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 04: (L-R) Vice Chairman of the Cleveland Cavaliers Nate Forbes and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert attend Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 4, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 04: (L-R) Vice Chairman of the Cleveland Cavaliers Nate Forbes and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert attend Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 4, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 18: Kyrie Irving at Sports Illustrated 2017 Fashionable 50 Celebration at Avenue on July 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 18: Kyrie Irving at Sports Illustrated 2017 Fashionable 50 Celebration at Avenue on July 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED) /

Kyrie Irving

As The Ringer’s Bill Simmons proclaimed, the Cavaliers shopped Kyrie Irving this offseason. Of course they did, why wouldn’t they?

The Cavaliers wanted to know what Kyrie’s baseline value was for next year. What they couldn’t have predicted is how Kyrie would have reacted to their having shopped him. What they certainly did not anticipate was Kyrie zeroing on their master plan to push LeBron out of Cleveland. It will be spun by spin doctors that Kyrie is selfish and wants to be the man. It will be told that if Kyrie had stayed with LeBron they would have had the opportunity to win several more rings. The greatest spin doctoring of all will be the story told that LeBron left Cleveland because Kyrie’s treacherous behaviour changed the dynamic of the team.

Kyrie’s desire to leave the team is a direct consequence of the team’s attempt to gauge his trade value, LeBron’s impending departure, and management dysfunction. All these issues can be traced back to the Cavaliers ownership.