Did the Cleveland Cavaliers handling of the Kyrie Irving trade cause them to lose LeBron James’ trust?
Appearing Thursday on ESPN 850 WKNR in Cleveland, veteran basketball insider Brian Windhorst said that he thinks James could re-sign with the Cavs this summer but not for the five-year max. Windhorst also reveals that the four-time MVP may not trust the organization anymore after the Irving trade as he would have preferred for them to force the All-Star guard to play.
Windhorst: I don't think LeBron will sign a 5-year deal with the #Cavs this summer. He may resign but I don't think for the max.
I am not sure he can trust the organization and Dan Gilbert after the Kyrie Irving trade. LeBron would have preferred they forced Kyrie to play.
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) January 18, 2018
James can be a free agent after the 2017-18 season, putting the Cavs in danger of losing both him and Irving, whose trade request they fulfilled by dealing him to the Boston Celtics last August, in an 11-month span.
Forcing a disgruntled Irving to suit up for them this season was probably never going to be a feasible option, especially in a year where the Cavs are trying to prove they can still compete amid James’ impending free agency. But they have been facing a lot of LeBron-related drama lately, and their handling of the Irving situation may have opened up a whole new can of worms.
