NBA Trade Rumors: Kyrie Irving says he wants to leave Cleveland Cavaliers
By Josh Hill
The Cleveland Cavaliers thought they had found their franchise player in LeBron James, but he ended up getting tired of all the losing and the lack of front office moves and left in 2010. They say history repasts itself but for Cavs fans, that history seems to be repeating itself a lot sooner than we thought.
Chad Ford from ESPN.com said in a chat session on Thursday that Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving is telling those close to him that he wants to leave.
"Something has to happen quick. Kyrie Irving has been telling people privately he wants out. Cleveland can’t afford to lose him and LeBron. They know the urgency. I expect them to be major players at the deadline."
Ford later clarified what he said by pointing out that it’s hard for players to leave the team that drafted them while still under their rookie contract.
"Thought that was fairly common knowledge that he’s been unhappy there. Maybe not … Don’t overreact. Much, much harder for players in their rookie contracts to leave. They have to take a much riskier path and essential sign a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. Very few do it."
To get burned by LeBron is one thing, but to get burned by the player you drafted to replace him so soon after you initially lost LeBron is beyond a travesty. Something like that might literally cause Cleveland to fall off the map.