To avoid a situation like what happened in 2010 with LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers may decide to trade guard Kyrie Irving if he chooses not to sign a contract extension before the Oct. 31 deadline. While Irving's camp wants the All-Star to leave Cleveland, some in the Cavaliers organization question whether he's even worth a max-level contract, Brian Windhorst of ESPN reports.
Irving becomes eligible for a contract extension on July 1 and has until Oct. 31 to sign it. While rumors persist that Irving wants to leave Cleveland, his true intentions won't be known until after he decides whether to sign the extension Cleveland will inevitably offer him.
James signed a three-year extension with a fourth year option in 2006; he ultimately opted out in 2010 and signed with the Miami Heat. Determined to avoid history repeating itself, the Cavaliers are likely to trade Irving if he passes on the contract extension.
"The Cleveland Cavaliers will offer Irving a maximum contract extension once they're allowed to on July 1, and if he hasn't signed it by October, the team will likely be forced to trade him before the Oct. 31 deadline for third-year players to extend their contracts," Windhorst wrote on Tuesday.
Irving declining to commit long-term to the Cavaliers would seemingly validate the rumors that he wants to play elsewhere, which would reportedly sit fine with the All-Star's inner circle.
"...While Irving has said all the right things about staying put in public, it's no secret that Irving's camp has been making it known for years now the point guard would like to be elsewhere long term. No matter how much he denies it," Windhorst wrote.
Irving is quickly becoming one of the NBA's most popular stars, and most believe Cleveland will offer him an extension. Windhorst, however, reported some in the Cavaliers organization don't believe Irving is worth designating to a five-year, max-level contract.
"There are those who even wonder whether Irving is truly worth a maximum-level contract, including some within the Cavs organization," Windhorst wrote. "His game has regressed a bit this season, particularly from a leadership standpoint, with his clashes with Dion Waiters making headlines, and it has raised a red flag or two in-house."
While Irving has amassed individual accolades, Cleveland (22-35) has yet to have a winning season behind the 2012 Rookie of the Year.
