The Cleveland Cavaliers started off the season the right way with a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night and on Friday they will visit the Bobcats and the prime question for the team moving forward over the next few years is whether they can keep Kyrie Irving long term.
Irving was the number one overall pick out of Duke and with LeBron James leaving for Miami a few years ago, everyone is wondering whether the Cavs will be able to keep their star, who could be the best player in the NBA this season. Yes, LeBron James will be better, but whatever, Irving is just 21-years-old and he is clearly on his way to being one of the top players in the league after making the All-Star team last season. The team has already picked up his option for next season, but the real kicker is after that, as the team will be able to give him an extension next summer.
After the 2015 season, Irving will have the chance to be a free agent and the team could bring him in on a contract extension next summer before that happens to keep him off the market. Dan Gilbert said it's too early to discuss Irving's contract and while that might be true for the owner, it sure isn't for the media and some have already speculated that he could be chased by the Lakers, Knicks and other top teams with money to burn. The Knicks and the Lakers will have their books mostly clear by that summer and that could mean a spending spree.
Cleveland doesn't want to lose another star and while Irving has said that he enjoys playing for Mike Brown and the city, which could chance in a year or two if the team is not trending in the right direction. Gilbert said that he wants Irving to stay for many years, but depending on how things shake out, that may not go down. Riving and young star Tristan Thompson had their options picked up and Irving will be getting paid $7.5 million in the 2014 season before he has the chance to hit the market.
Irving has developed into a very solid player for the Cavs and last season her played in 60 games and averaged over 20 points with just under six assists and the team feels that he can lead them to the playoffs in 2013-14.
"We don't even frankly discuss that yet, it's still a little bit early," Gilbert said. "We feel good about Kyrie being here for his entire career. We think we set up an environment and a culture that's conducive to him being not only an All-Star, but the leader of a championship-contending team. We'll keep going until we get to that point, whether it's this year or next year or whenever that may be."