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The Trade
Report: Kyrie Irving Trade for Paul George, Eric Bledsoe Was Explored by Cavs
TIMOTHY RAPP
JANUARY 03, 2018
The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly were in talks to trade Kyrie Irving to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal in June, according to Jackie MacMullan of ESPN:
"In mid-June, shortly before [former general manager David] Griffin left, team and league sources confirm, the Cavs explored a three-way deal with Phoenix and Indiana that would have shipped Irving and [Channing] Frye to the Suns and brought Eric Bledsoe and Paul George to Cleveland. The Suns resisted, unwilling to part with their No. 4 pick, which they planned to use to draft Josh Jackson."
That trade came a month before Irving requested one out of Cleveland, ultimately landing with the Boston Celtics in a deal that brought Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Brooklyn's 2018 first-round pick and Ante Zizic to Cleveland.
Irving called the details of his trade request "distorted."
"I didn't feel the need to say anything because I knew the truth, and so did they," he told MacMullan. "So it didn't matter what others said."
"They didn't want me there," he added.
According to MacMullan's report, the team's trade talks in June "stung" Irving, and he became convinced that LeBron James was behind the potential deal, though "team and league sources refute that, saying that it was [former general manager David] Griffin who initiated the trade talks with Phoenix."
Those conversations stalled, then Griffin stepped down. Attempts at landing Paul George in a three-way deal with Indiana and Denver that would have sent Kevin Love to the Nuggets fell through (as did attempts to trade for Jimmy Butler). Irving ultimately made his request to be moved, though he wasn't pleased with how his request was perceived.
"I thought there would be a sense of confidentiality on everyone's part. I'm not going to point fingers, even though I know fingers will get pointed anyway, but the way it happened was disappointing," he said. "It was hurtful how it spun out. It turned into a narrative where everyone got to have an opinion on why I should do this, why I should do that. I'm this. I'm that. I'm selfish. That's fine because that's not reality. It was just a bunch of noise."
From there, the trade to Boston materialized, though Irving made it clear he didn't orchestrate the move to the Celtics.
"There's a misconception how all this went down," Irving told MacMullan. "I was traded to Boston. I had no say at all in where they sent me. There were no conversations like, 'OK, this is an opportunity we can pursue.' It wasn't a recruitment process."
But perhaps all's well that ends well. Irving, 25, has thrived in Boston, averaging 24.8 points, 4.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He's shooting a career-best 48.9 percent from the field and draining threes at a 40.4 percent clip.
He's established an excellent rapport with Al Horford and has seemed to be a natural fit in Brad Stevens' offense. In the process, he's led the Celtics to a 30-10 record. Only Golden State (29-8) has a better winning percentage this season.
The core of Irving, Horford, Jaylen Brown, rookie Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward (when he returns from injury) is incredibly promising. Add in either the Los Angeles Lakers 2018 first-round pick (if it lands in the range of 2-5) or the Sacramento Kings 2019 first-rounder if the L.A. pick doesn't convey, and the Celtics are loaded with players and assets to build around Irving for the foreseeable future.
Real coon shit
His last 15 games:
Those numbers are crazy... after last night's PRE-SEASON game of them 2 together you almost have to say "we're not trading him just yet... but unless we get EXACTLY what we want."
So Miami, Philly, whoever else get involved just know... it's gone hurt...
Yet,he has the most game winners in playoff history....![]()
Being him = being a fuckin asshole. It happens in life man. Some people are just like that. Thing that annoys me more than anything is him blaming everyone else. It's ridiculous. Now sit back and enjoy this bitches titties Mack.Idk man.. just seems like he's being him and people can't vibe with it.
I dont see LeBron's name anywhere in your article. So basically you're blaming a move Dan Gilbert "might've" made cuz this is a "report", and attempted to put it on LeBron SOLELY. Like he went into the Cavs office and said "hey I want you to trade Kyrie just cuz I feel like it", and they just withered to his demands.
This also relies on the "LeBron is more powerful than the white NBA owners" racist trope, Kobe & MJ stans lived off of, that we know in 2020 is now bullshit.
Kyrie wanted out and demanded a trade. Simple as that, this bullshit report was to make it seem like he was "hurt".Other Cavs have already confirmed he was wanting out behind the scenes going all the way back to the championship year.
Houston still could be good with Harden; but if they getting all those assets from NJ or Miami, ill do it...
Being him = being a fuckin asshole. It happens in life man. Some people are just like that. Thing that annoys me more than anything is him blaming everyone else. It's ridiculous. Now sit back and enjoy this bitches titties Mack.
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KD looks normal
He might rewrite the thoughts of an achilles injury, but part of it is that he is so skilled that athleticism and quickness aren't the biggest part of his game.
Plus he's still in his early 30's.
No. Ion rememberThat's how you see him, that's how you seem him... And fam, can we get a name on atleast one of these bitches you be posting
Very good defender. Phenomenal shot blocker. Very raw offensively.Tell me about Norvel Pelle @jack walsh13
It said,he played 24 games for the 6ers last season....
The Cavs signed him up in a 2-way contract...
Very good defender. Phenomenal shot blocker. Very raw offensively.
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His game is all skill.. It’s no surprise he looks like he never left.. Klay will be the same way..KD looks normal
He might rewrite the thoughts of an achilles injury, but part of it is that he is so skilled that athleticism and quickness aren't the biggest part of his game.
Plus he's still in his early 30's.
Wouldn't have been any room for him. He's young and gets into foul trouble quickly. That's the only thing. Better to have a veteran back up Embiid cause you know he's gonna miss some time. You didn't want him playing 30 minutes a night for any stretch. That's why we didn't keep him.I'm surprised Doc didn't keep him...
That brittle muthafucka gets on my fuckin nerves bruh.It's funny that started with Lebron and ended with Vince. I don't see any of those other guys having their longevity in the league. Especially Embiid with his injury prone ass.
He had a rough game but this pass was nice...
That pass is Magicesque
New Orleans, Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Philly, are now in rotation along with the Lake ShowYoung fella sees the court very well... I may try to catch a few Charlotte games when I can just to see how he's progressing.
That pass is Magicesque
Young fella sees the court very well... I may try to catch a few Charlotte games when I can just to see how he's progressing.