Cavaliers Power Play

For the Cavaliers, all signs point to Kyrie Irving being traded and LeBron James leaving via free agency next summer. Don't be a fool; these situations aren't unrelated. It has long been floated around that LeBron, who has a $21 million palace in Brentwood, is destined for the Lakers. Kyrie, who has long been frustrated being the Robin to LeBron's Batman, knows that this is a distinct possibility, if not a likelihood. Because of this Irving has requested a trade and wants out of Cleveland.

The Cavaliers have several options for where they can deal Kyrie and they, like Kyrie, have heard the rumblings of LeBron to the Lakers. He likes the weather, he has a house in Brentwood as I mentioned, they have the ability to attract free agents, and they have a nice young core.

A nice young core ... hmmm ... that is what teams receive in return for a player of Kyrie Irving's stature. If Dan Gilbert were vindictive, which I think is a fair character assessment given his stern letter after LeBron's first departure, why wouldn't he trade Kyrie to the Lakers? In return I am sure the Cavaliers could get a package that included some permutation of Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and dare I say Lonzo Ball.

This would accomplish two things. First, it would give the Cavaliers a nice young core, and one that has tremendous upside. But more importantly, what it would do is it would eliminate the Lakers from the LeBron sweepstakes in the summer of 2018. Yes, this might piss LeBron off, but hey, it's not all peaches and cream in the NBA.

I think that this is an avenue the Cavaliers should seriously consider going down. With the Lakers off the table, where else could LeBron realistically go? I can't imagine that he would venture out West given that the Warriors reside out there. Maybe he could go back to Miami? I doubt it. He would have the same luck in South Beach as he would have in Cleveland, but the only difference would be in that scenario he once again be considered a traitor by many in his hometown.

If the Cavs do in fact Kyrie deal to the Lakers, I think all signs point to LeBron staying put in Cleveland for the foreseeable future. In the NBA you've always got to be one step ahead. If you're not, you get left behind. If the Cavaliers deal Kyrie to Team X (not the Lakers) and LeBron bolts for LA, they are screwed. Trading Kyrie to the Lakers helps them retain LeBron long-term, while also establishing a young nucleus moving forward. This is the only move that makes sense.