Kyrie Irving Preparing for Cavalier-dom
2011-06-01
There’s a chance Duke point guard Kyrie Irving’s predraft tour might consist of one stop.
“Our priority is Cleveland,” agent Jeff Wechsler said from his office in Florida on Tuesday.
Irving, 19, might work out only for the Cavaliers. Don’t expect him to work out with any other players.
I hope he comes here with all these Canadian soldiers flying around.
Interesting take on the Rubio signing and potential revival of the Hamilton trade for picks from the Detroit point of view – http://www.thedetroitsportssite.com/2011/06/02/does-ricky-rubio-news-bring-pistons-timberwolves-trade-back-into-play/1897
Apparently Rubio is going to play in Minnesota next year, which probably locks up the Kanter to Twolves pick. Either way I think we are still in a good position at #4. Let’s say the draft starts out like this: 1) Irving (Cavs) 2) Kanter (Wolves) 3) Williams (Jazz) At #4 our big board would have Valanciunas, Leonard, and Vesely at the top (just a guess). We could go with the Kahn method and draft Brandon Knight and then look to trade. Knight for Valanciunas and a borderline 1st/2nd round pick is definitely possible. We could even trade for Derrick… Read more »
My worry about his toe are caused by the statements that he will have to PERMANENTLY wear a metal splint in his shoe.
I don’t think his working out in Cleveland only can be taken as “this is a done deal yet”. I think it’s about 80% there, pending that he impresses in the workout and clears the medical.
You have to take his refusal to work out for anyone else as directly influenced by his agent. It is a statement that says, “Kyrie will be the number one pick. The cavs have the pick. ’nuff said.” I don’t think it is arrogance, but it is the way this game is played.
Heard an interview with Kyrie Irving on ESPN First Take a couple days after the draft lottery – he referred to the Cavaliers as “we”. That’s enough for me to believe a deal’s already in place. I think the “Gilbert really likes Williams” narrative is the introduction of uncertainty needed to keep trade proposals open.
this is interesting especially for a pg that is 19 that only played 11 games. however as a clevlander, we need star power for the future. the key words are star power and future. if i was dan gilbert i’d lock this kid up, hes not 7-4 he’s 6-4 he won’t have crhonic foot problems like yao.
That’s why the Cavs’ medical evaluation is so important. I think Irving’s camp must have been told that if the medical staff clears Kyrie, the Cavs will draft him. Otherwise it would be a huge risk to just assume he will be #1 without any additional knowledge.
The good news is that he seems to be committed and ready to be a Cavalier. However, that toe will decide whether he will spend the next 5 years on an up and coming Cavs squad or in the vaccuum that is Twolves basketball.
What scares me about this is the health of his toe. Although he came back and played a few games for Duke, we still don’t know if/how the toe is impacting him. I understand him not wanting to jeapordize his draft stock, but not participating in the combines, only attending 1 workout and without working out with any other players (head to head) doesn’t sit well with me. If he had a ‘full body of work’ post injury, then I’d feel better about it, but as it stands, we (at least I) haven’t seen enough of him since he’s been… Read more »
I find it hard to believe that Irving’s camp would do this if they didn’t have assurances from the Cav’s that drafting him at #1 is a done deal. That scares me only because it might have an effect on what other team’s are willing to do in trades and all. For example if someone wants Williams bad enough to trade up, they know they only have to trade up to #2 if all indications are the Cav’s have a deal with Irving.