Try, try and try as they might, the Cleveland Cavaliers still don’t have any answers for their nemesis out west. Since Golden State acquired Kevin Durant last summer, Cleveland, as well as every other team in the NBA, has been making every roster move and tweak they can make only to realize that it’s still not enough. A major mid-week trade with conference contender Boston—already strange enough—that swapped all-star point guards might be on hold due to uncertainty around Celtics star Isaiah Thomas’ hip. The jury is still out on whether moving away from former Cavs No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving was/is a good move or not but we’re about to find out soon.
File-This Oct. 8, 2015, file photo shows Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James watching from the bench during a timeout during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Philadelphia. Last season, when stars like James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala all were given nights off when the Cavaliers or Warriors were playing nationally televised games on ABC, there was no shortage of scorn. This season, teams playing in those marquee ABC games will have a day off both before and after those contests. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
How desperate do you have to be to trade your second best player to the other top contender in your conference just to secure a pity date with the top team from the opposite conference? Ask Cleveland. Thomas aside and even versatile forward Jae Crowder notwithstanding, the biggest boon in Cleveland’s potential trade with Boston is that they were walking away with what’s likely to be Brooklyn’s lottery pick for next season. That pick will undoubtedly come in handy as signs continue to hint towards this being LeBron James’ last year with the Cavs.
Even if Thomas’ hip had checked out, Cleveland’s proposed trade with Boston was just makeup and eye shadow for next year. Sure, a healthy Thomas and motivated Crowder could easily aide James and crew back to the Finals but it wouldn’t be enough to win against the Warriors. Not against that juggernaut. Cleveland would lose size swapping Thomas for Irving and they would invite team conflict since it’s been reported that Crowder is currently dating newly acquired backup point guard Derrick Rose’s old high school girlfriend. Then there’s the upcoming season-long story of whether or not James is coming back. It’s purely a mess in Cleveland right now.
Ironically, the man to fault for all of this? James himself. His own greatness was reason enough for the Warriors to make a play for Durant last summer and now Irving requesting a ticket out of town this summer. It’s about rings and title-chases at the moment for James as he enters his 15th year in the league. But, as he and the Cavaliers continue to try and ensure that he’ll remain relevant, there’s still one group out west who doesn’t care about his team or his legacy. Whether it’s Irving or Thomas, Cleveland won’t win the title next season as long as Golden State remains healthy. We’re set to embark on James’ farewell season in Cleveland. The Cavs know it, James knows it and now the rest of the league is about to find out.
