Kyrie Irving is coming off another All-Star season, that culminated in a loss in the 2017 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. He has separated himself as one of the best ball handlers and most lethal scorers in the league. Kyrie was an integral piece of the puzzle that made the Cleveland Cavaliers a serious contender over the last three seasons. He decided to make one of the most interesting NBA off-season's even more dramatic. So far, six teams have expressed interest in the All-Star point guard.
Kyrie Irving and his career
Irving was the number one overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft, after a one and done career at Duke.
He is a four time All-Star with impressive career numbers for his age. He has averaged 21.6 points and 5.6 assists per game for his career to this point. He, LeBron James, and Kevin Love were the threesome that was the core of the Eastern Conference Champions Cleveland Cavaliers.
This past regular season has proven to be his best regular season to date, and he's only 25. He averaged 35 minutes and 25 points per game, while shooting a hefty 47% from the field. And he shot a wonderful 40% from the three point line.
With all of these great things that happened in Cleveland, he has his reasons for wanting to leave.
Ready to do his thing
The past Friday, Kyrie Irving asked to be traded by the Cavaliers.
This announcement sent shockwaves through the NBA. According to ESPN, Irving feels that he is good enough to be the focal point/franchise player of a team. This was seemingly the idea a 3 years ago, and then they signed LeBron. Though, there is the friendship and appreciation between the two athletes, Irving feels it's his time to grow.
"(Irving) said he wanted to be the focal point, wanted to be the franchise player, and no longer wanted to play alongside LeBron," a source told ESPN.
So far, though extremely early in the process for Kyrie, six different teams have shown interest in trading for him; Nuggets, Suns, Spurs, Knicks, Heat, and the Timberwolves. But, where he will end up who knows.
LeBron's reaction
According to CBS Sports, LeBron James was devastated. He was under the impression that they would both be returning for another shot at the Golden State Warriors and another NBA Championship. Though it was reported throughout their tenure in Cleveland that James and Irving did have their moments of butting heads, but there has stemmed a great friendship between the two. LeBron James was uncertain about the future of the Cavaliers before, not it must really be in question.
