You know, I try to place myself in Kyrie's shoes....
Highly regarded PG coming out of Duke...going to CLE (post-LeBron James).
Trying to forge his OWN career - post LeBron...learning to play with NBA teammates - like Tyler Zeller and others.
Wasn't TZ the 2nd highest ranked pick after him? In the next draft? Loved Zeller but was he the best CLE could do?
He experienced little by himself in CLE...loitered there for a couple of years...did enough - in just his 2nd season - to garner All-Star game placement...but his team wasn't good evidently...
THEN - the CIRCUS happened - called LeBron James. LeBron - tantalized by this young, stellar PG (and a fading MIA team) - decided to include CLEVELAND in his fabled story book and RETURN HOME....
....and who in the WORLD was going to stop LeBron James from doing exactly what he wanted? When he wanted?
After all - aren't WE ALL WITNESSES......................?
Anyways CLE organization uses Scorched Earth on the franchise...rebuilds it from the ground up in a short time...trading draft picks, making deals...bringing in coaches...GMs.....poor Blatt doesn't want ANYTHING else to do with the NBA and I personally can't blame him.
This left ONLY Kyrie (I think?) as perhaps the ONLY player left...
Basically - CLE went ALL IN for LeBron. It brought them a banner but even NOW they are trying to recoup from the deals made on LeBron's behalf........
Wasn't Kyrie - at first - a bit reprehensive about all of this? Would he do it over again? I honestly don't think he would, being how he has NOT followed LeBron since.....
So - fast-forward CLE's first championship (all because The King came home) and several Finals appearances and THEN start the rumors....the restlessness....The King's desire to carry his throne out West....and NOW - with Kyrie seeing ALL of this unfold right before his eyes he starts acting out irrationally...becoming distant from his teammates....
Not wanting to play the game - the politicking - anymore?
After all -
We are ALL - Witnesses. If you deny it I know a river in Egypt I can take you to.
I personally don't blame Kyrie for it all. I would cease talking to the media if I were him...do it only enough to keep from getting fined...
Dude will FOREVER be linked to LeBron James....for better or for worse.