Lack of communication between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kyrie Irving may stall the All-Star point guard’s request to be traded. According to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, the Cavaliers have failed to contact Irving to further discuss his trade request made to team owner Dan Gilbert on July 7. Lloyd said Irving is "not talking to anyone from the organization" because he's "said enough already."
Irving recently returned from a basketball trip to China but it’s unclear if that affected the communication lines between the two sides. Now that he’s returned to the United States, the Cavaliers can easily contact him through other avenues.
Irving is under contract with the Cavaliers for two more years, including a player option for the 2019-20 season.
Irving caught everyone by surprise when his trade demand surfaced. In his meeting with Gilbert, the 25-year-old Irving asked for a trade to a team where he can be the focal point of the offense rather than play as second option to LeBron James. He mentioned the San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves as his preferred landing spots.
Several teams interested in Irving
The Cavaliers are now engaged in trade talks for Irving, with several teams expressing their desire to swap assets for the All-Star playmaker. According to multiple reports, the Knicks are considering sending Carmelo Anthony and top picks to the Cavaliers for Irving, while the Phoenix Suns plan to swap Eric Bledsoe for the All-Star playmaker.
A three-team trade involving the Knicks, Suns, and the Cavs also surfaced that would bring Irving and veteran center Tyson Chandler to New York, Anthony and Bledsoe to Cleveland, and Kevin Love and rookie Frank Ntilikina to Phoenix.
The Timberwolves also joined the fray with the name of Andrew Wiggins being floated as a possible offer to the Cavaliers for Irving.
The Wolves made the move upon the request of Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns, who both want to play alongside Irving, whom they believe can make them contenders in the Western Conference.
Cavs expect Irving to be in training camp
In a press conference where he introduced new general manager Koby Altman, Gilbert said the Cavs expect Irving to be in training camp when it opens in September.
Altman and Gilbert were both silent about Irving’s trade demand and their future plans for him but they both praised the point guard for his contribution to the Cavaliers’ success in the past years. Altman also emphasized that the reported tension between Irving and James was overblown.
