The Cleveland Cavaliers will do Cleveland Cavaliers things. According to a recent report by the New York Daily News, Cleveland doesn’t view star guard Kyrie Irving as a max-contract player and aren’t prepared to offer him a max extension this offseason.
The report indicates that Irving continues to tell people he wants out and isn’t viewed as a leader within the organization.
The Cavs are making noises that they aren’t going to offer Kyrie Irving “max money’’ this summer via a long-term extension. They don’t want to deal the 2014 All-Star Game MVP, but it could come to that, especially if the West Orange product and his family continue to tell people that he wants out.
Is it possible that instead of pacifying their only meal ticket, the Cavs would actually consider moving him in a trade? Previous reports have linked both LeBron James and Kevin Love to the Cavs, who boast the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft next month.
Neither of those players would agree to a long-term deal without Irving himself committing to the Cavs. For his part, Irving probably wouldn’t agree to be extended unless Cleveland acquires another star or two. That’s what you call a downtrodden organization being “between a rock and a hard place.”
Photo: David Richard, USA Today