Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 questions on Kyrie Irving’s stunning trade demand

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Patrick McCaw #0 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Patrick McCaw #0 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 16: The Hollywood Sign is seen on November 16, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. The historic landmark is undergoing a month-long makeover; erected in 1923 as a giant ad for a housing development and originally read ‘Hollywoodland’, the sign with letters that are 45 feet tall and 36 feet wide was declared a Los Angeles Cultural Historical Monument in 1973. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 16: The Hollywood Sign is seen on November 16, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. The historic landmark is undergoing a month-long makeover; erected in 1923 as a giant ad for a housing development and originally read ‘Hollywoodland’, the sign with letters that are 45 feet tall and 36 feet wide was declared a Los Angeles Cultural Historical Monument in 1973. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Is Kyrie Nuts?

Well…kind of.

The entire basketball world fully expects LeBron James to depart Cleveland next summer for greener and glitzier pastures. The writing is on the wall, and it looks a lot like (see above).

If Kyrie stays, he has to endure the apparent displeasure of playing one more season with James, but almost certainly gets a trip to the Finals for his trouble. Will his brand (did you know NBA players think of themselves as brands? It’s apparently a thing) really be hurt that much by one more year without a team to call his own? Seems like he thinks so.

Kyrie could just as easily have waited until next summer to make this trade demand. It would also look more reasonable then, especially if LeBron decided to flee for a second time. He’d be a pariah in Cleveland either way, but hey, omelettes don’t make themselves.

So yea, he’s a little nuts.