Cleveland Cavaliers: Is it time for LeBron James to relinquish his team?
LeBron James is the renown leader of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but to save the team’s future, must he give the leadership of the team to Kyrie Irving?
This upcoming season for the Cleveland Cavaliers might be the transition period, the changing of the guard for their superstar tandem. LeBron James will be 33 and exiting his prime while Irving will be turning 26 and wanting to be the man on a team.
Why not let Irving be the man on his only NBA franchise?
Irving’s frustration, while misunderstood by most, should be relieved if LeBron James were to leave the Land or relinquish it. That is what Irving wants after all, a team to call him own. While he has not shown he can lead a team as the alpha dog, Irving’s progress through the years indicates that it might be that time for him to a team his won. At 25.2 points per game, Irving did last season what many only hope to get from their point guard.
Other superstar point guards like John Wall and Damian Lillard have their own franchises that they have molded with star shooting guards, Bradley Beal and C.J. McCollum respectively. It seems as though Irving wants to follow in their steps, even though they haven’t been on a team to go to three straight NBA Finals.
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James, though, if he wants to stay in Cleveland, could still have several more MVP-caliber seasons left. Comparing one generational legend to another — Michael Jordan continued domination until he was 34, and he even averaged over 20 points per game until he finally retired when we was 39. If James can match or even outdo Jordan, he would be able to lead the Cavaliers for over half a decade longer. That is why Kyrie Irving wants out.
If James leaves, then Irving is chasing his shadow in Cleveland, but if James stays, Irving might stay the second fiddle for much longer. Is it time for LeBron to man-to-man tell Kyrie Irving that he can be the leader of the team? Is it time to let Irving call the shots? Part of Irving’s frustration has to come from how the Cavaliers have catered to every one of James’ needs on their roster.
While turning the team over might not be the best option, it might be the option that takes this team back to a championship caliber squad. In the 2010-2011 season, Dwyane Wade seemingly stepped aside from his only NBA franchise (at the time), the Miami Heat and let the 26-year-old LeBron lead the way, resulting in two titles in four seasons. In less than a year, Irving will be 26, and it will be time for him to have the reigns of the team as arguably a top five point guard in the NBA.
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Just like Wade handed the keys over, will it be best if LeBron James hands the Cleveland Cavaliers over to Kyrie Irving?