Cleveland Cavaliers teammates LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were in the same room over the weekend in Florida, more than one month after the latter’s trade demand went public. According to Tony Rizzo of ESPN, very reliable sources told him that James and Irving went face to face over the weekend in Florida. However, Rizzo said he wasn’t sure if there was a thawing out process. Rizzo’s sources also said the two did not get into any heated discussion. “As for what they talked about or discussed…it was very cool,” said Rizzo.
However, Stephen A. Smith disputed Rizzo's claim, saying James and Irving did not meet in Miami to discuss their situation.
Smith earlier claimed that James would be “tempted to beat Irving’s ass if he saw him right now.” On his Twitter account, James denied Smith’s pronouncement, urging people to get another source.
Irving’s camp, for its part, believes that it was James who leaked to the media their trade demand, which he issued during his meeting with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. During that meeting, Irving enumerated his preferred destinations, which include the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Miami Heat. The Cavaliers, for their part, want a win-now veteran, a blue-chip young gun and a top draft pick for Irving.
James 100 percent leaving Cavaliers
If they iron out their differences, the duo will have one last run to win a championship as a tandem as James is 100 percent sure to leave the Cavaliers in 2018.
According to long-time NBA writer Chris Sheridan, the relationship between James and Gilbert is beyond irreparable and he’s 100 percent leaving Cleveland in 2018. However, Sheridan’s claim was contradicted by Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio and Chris Broussard of Fox Sports 1. Amico said Sheridan’s source “swung and missed by a mile.” Broussard, for his part, reported that James will reveal his plan for the future after this season.
Cavaliers still waiting for James’ decision
With James’ future still uncertain, the Cavaliers cannot fulfill Irving’s trade request immediately. If James decides to leave Cleveland, the Cavaliers may seek for young players who they can use as building blocks. It was reported that James might bolt Cleveland for the second time in his career and join young guns Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder might also join the Lakers in 2018 and form a super team with James.
