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Despite half a season having gone by since the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics per his request, details from his unforeseen displeasure with the organization still emerge.
According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, Irving threatened to sit out the season and have surgery on his knee if owner Dan Gilbert didn't acquiesce to his request.
That particular threat assured Gilbert that the relationship between Irving and the organization was not salvageable at that point.
Neither Irving's agent; Jeff Wechsler, nor Gilbert responded to a request from Vardon seeking comment on the matter.
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Irving needed minor knee surgery as a follow-up to the procedure dating back to the 2015 NBA Finals to repair a broken knee cap.
It wasn't a pressing matter, but Irving used it as perfect leverage to get his way in hopes to find a way out of Cleveland before the start of the new season.
Irving, now in Boston, is averaging 24.5 points and shooting a career-high 47.7 percent from the field, though eventually, a procedure would ease some of the swelling and the pain he experiences day-to-day, according to Vardon.
The Cavs were at a stalemate, they would either lose their prized point guard to a trade, or lose him to injury — at least the first option would net something in return — which turned into their prized Brooklyn Nets pick, an asset they've valued as this trade deadline nears.
Irving's choice has pan out well for him, as the Celtics are in sole control of the No. 1 seed in the East and he's starting to develop into the star he hoped to become under the guidance of coach Brad Stevens.
