Courtside
Anthony L. Cuaycong
Every year around this time, the National Basketball Players Association conducts a poll to get members’ sentiments on a variety of topics. Among the queries: “Which player do you secretly want to be on your team?” In 2015 and 2016, LeBron James wound up topping the votes. For Kyrie Irving, though, James is apparently the player he secretly doesn’t want to be on his team. Well, now the secret’s out, and the league has been rocked by news of his demand to be moved to a situation where he can be tops in the pecking order.
For the Cavaliers, Irving’s timing couldn’t have been worse. Draft Day has come and gone, and the most desirable free agents available for trade, among them Paul George and Jimmy Butler, already have new employers. Moreover, his desire to be traded has to be tempered with the reality of James heading into free agency next year. On paper, he seems to have no bargaining power; his deal runs until the end of the 2018-2019 season. On the other hand, owner Dan Gilbert and general manager in waiting Kobe Altman need to act sooner rather than later in order for them to get maximum value in return.
Nonetheless, the Cavaliers are in deep crap. The fact that Irving’s intention to get as far away from James’ imposing shadow as possible has reached public consciousness weakens their position. And if they do nothing, they risk going through a tumultuous 2017-2018 campaign in which the relationship of their two best stars will be fractured at best. In any case, there is likewise the very real possibility of the King exercising his rights as a free agent next year and bolting for digs that give him a better chance to continue chasing rings.
In a meeting with Gilbert, Irving is said to have specified the Spurs, Heat, Timberwolves, and Knicks as his preferred destinations. The common denominator is clear: they employ systems that best suit his ball-dominant predilections. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, however; he cannot, therefore, dictate where he lands. Then again, he doesn’t really care what colors he will don for as long as they’re not wine and gold, and for as long as they allow him to run the show.
If nothing else, the turn of events has proven why the Cavaliers failed to defend their title last month: To their detriment, they’re everything the Warriors are not, both on the court and off. The latter make for a juggernaut not just because of the wealth of assembled talents, but because the same talents understand the value of selflessness in building legacies and dynasties. Irving and James (who stands as the modern-day model for player self-actualization) don’t.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.
