The news that Kyrie Irving has requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers broke on Friday afternoon and since then, trade rumors for the guard as well as predictions for what LeBron James will do have been the most talked about topic. With two guaranteed years left on his deal, the Cavs don’t have to trade Irving, and equipped with a no-trade clause, James won’t be traded unless he approves of it.
According to Chris Haynes of ESPN, the Cavaliers forward will not be waiving his no-trade clause at any point in the 2017-18 season for any team.
No matter the reconstruction of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ roster, no matter the potential for heightened inner turmoil, no matter the win-loss record, and with or without Kyrie Irving, LeBron James will not waive his no-trade clause for any teams at any point during the 2017-18 season, league sources tell ESPN.
After making $31 million with the Cavs for the 2016-17 season, James is set to make $33.3 million in 2017-18 and also has a player-option for the 2018-19 season, which would pay him $35.6 million. Many expect James to opt out of the final year and hit the unrestricted free agent market, but no one, probably not even LeBron himself, truly knows what he will do less than a year from now.
Haynes adds that regardless of the decision management makes with Irving and his trade request, James is determined to lead the Cavs to another NBA Finals in hopes of avenging last year’s loss to the juggernaut Golden State Warriors.