Dysfunction in Cleveland - July 24th, 2017

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Dysfunction in Cleveland
July 24th, 2017
Just when I thought the NBA offseason was going to die down Kyrie just shakes up the league by requesting a trade. Reports indicate that he is no longer interested in playing alongside LeBron and prefers to go to the Knicks, Spurs, Timberwolves or Heat. Reports even circulate that Kyrie wanted to leave after their 2016 championship run. When I analyze the situation at hand, I agree with Kyrie's motives and LeBron has to reap what he sow.
I am team Kyrie on this one for the simple fact that the Cavs as an organization is clearly dysfunctional. There are management issues, personnel issues, coaching problems , couldn't get a Paul George or Jimmy Butler in Cleveland, lowballed Chauncey Billups and well, LeBron. When you play with LeBron, you sign up for more than playing alongside one of the greatest players this game has ever seen. LeBron's antics can be cumbersome as a teammate or coach given that he gives ultimatums to management to keep him from being disgruntled. We have seen David Blatt get fired, last minute trades, resigning of players and adding players to the trade market in the name of LeBron James. So if you put yourself in Irving's shoes, it makes sense to why he wouldn't want to spend his remaining two years with Cleveland.
If you dig a littler deeper under the surface of this catastrophe you can point the finger at LeBron. He made one to many comments to the media, he made one too many tweets and Instagram posts and he publicly criticized the talent around him or management too many times (I personally think LeBron owes Kevin Love a public apology and some roses.) With all of that being said, LeBron's leadership is definitely in question. Furthermore, LeBron is not only called The King for his talent but for his astronomical leverage. His leverage in the NBA gives him the power to do all of these things and get away with it. I have said for years that LeBron is an unofficial NBA GM. I do not think we have ever witnessed a player with this much power over any sport. Given that, Kyrie is exercising the sample size of leverage that he has, making this a boss move. Kyrie looks ahead knowing that LeBron is most likely out of Cleveland next summer and the team will most likely fall apart so this decision takes some control in his young career. Therefore, the big story here isn't where Kyrie will end up, whereas, it is how the trade demand has LeBron's name all over it. Given all of that, Kyrie still doesn't have complete control over the situation and he could end up in a bad situation so just like people say, "the grass isn't always greener" or " be careful what you wish for."


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