Despite all of the drama and turmoil surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer including a change in leadership in the front office, Kyrie Irving’s trade request and the rumors surrounding his own departure in a year, LeBron James by all accounts has sat back and not involved himself in off-season decisions, opting instead to let it all play out.
That is, until now. According to ESPN Reporter Pablo Torre on the “Fear The Sword” blog, James has been talking with former teammate and newly hired Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Phoenix Suns, James Jones, about the availability of No. 4 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Josh Jackson in a trade.
“LeBron James is doing some LeBron James offseason work. And my understanding is it’s not just Derrick Rose, it’s not just Eric Bledsoe. LeBron James happens to know a guy named James Jones . . . LeBron James is hustling behind the scenes, is my understanding, asking ‘Is Josh Jackson available for Kyrie Irving?’ And the answer back that I heard is ‘no, he is not.’ But LeBron James is hustling on behalf of the Cleveland Cavaliers, at least for this one year.”
This rumor is interesting on multiple fronts as it clearly shows LeBron is still committed to the Cavaliers on some level, especially considering he is inquiring on the availability of a 20-year-old rookie to add to his team, along with Eric Bledsoe of course. That doesn’t exactly sound like a guy that is only committed for the 2017-18 season.
A three team deal involving Phoenix and New York makes the most sense with Irving landing in New York and Bledsoe and Carmelo Anthony joining James in Cleveland, but the interest level on both sides is lukewarm between Carmelo and the Cavaliers so that seems like a faint possibility.
It seems pretty clear that Irving is the Suns to have if they deal Bledsoe and Jackson, but with the way their roster is constructed and the path the franchise is heading for that would be a poor decision in my opinion.
Especially with no guarantee of Irving re-signing in two years.
We’ll see if GM LeBron can work some magic for the Cavaliers after all.
