5 potential ripple effects from the Kyrie Irving trade
By Joe Romano
5. LeBron James has yet to squash rumors of his expected departure from Cleveland after this season. Does this trade help or hurt the Cavaliers chances of keeping the King?
Reports have surfaced since the NBA Finals that LeBron James was prepared to leave Cleveland after this coming season. Some even pointed to these reports as a reason that Kyrie Irving demanded a trade.
The media was highlighting LeBron’s Los Angeles summer home as a clue that James might join the Lakers after this season. The Lakers have prepared for this possibility as well, clearing a ton of cap space. They traded Timofey Mozgov to shed his contract and refused to ink deals for free agents longer than a year.
This next season in Cleveland will be a make or break one for LeBron, despite reports that he is already “100 percent leaving”. Does the arrival of Isaiah Thomas, and that Nets pick rejuvenate LeBron’s desire to stay home?
This Cavaliers team could be set up better than in previous years to battle the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Thomas can help replace the majority of Kyrie’s offense, while Crowder may be the Swiss army knife defender the Cavaliers were utilizing the under-qualified Iman Shumpert as.
The future of the Cavaliers is also looking brighter after this trade. The 2018 Nets pick could land in the top five of this year’s lottery, a lottery that draft experts are already touting as one of the best in recent years.
Ante Zizic is also a bright spot for the future. The 7-footer has shown promise as a rim-runner and defensive force in summer league and in his time in Europe.
The Cavaliers have a bunch of questions after this off-season that all start with LeBron James’ decision. Next on their docket is paying newly acquired Isiah Thomas.