Irving wants trade from Cavaliers.
Kyrie Irving wants the stage for himself.
Cleveland’s all-star point guard has asked the Cavaliers to trade him, two people familiar with the situation said Friday. Irving made the request last week to owner Dan Gilbert, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting on the star’s demands.
A four-time all-star, Irving has spent six seasons with the Cavs, who selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. The 25-year-old has overcome injury issues and blossomed into one of the league’s elite point guards and biggest stars.
And now that he’s finally established himself playing alongside LeBron James, Irving wants out.
The bombshell about Irving adds to what has been a tumultuous offseason for the Cavs following their loss in five games to Golden State in the NBA Finals. General manager David Griffin parted ways with the club after failing to work out a new contract with Gilbert, and while other teams have been active in signing free agents the Cavs have been limited in their ability to revamp their roster because of salary-cap issues.
That could change as on Friday night the team announced that assistant general manager Koby Altman would be their full-time GM.
Zanik returns to Jazz: The Utah Jazz has reached agreements with Justin Zanik and David Morway to join the front office, a source said.
Zanik returns to the Jazz after serving as assistant general manager from 2012-’16.
Zanik, a former agent, had been hired as assistant general manager with the Milwaukee Bucks and was expected to succeed general manager John Hammond one day. Hammond was named GM of the Orlando Magic in May and the Bucks eventually hired Jon Horst.
Morway was the Pacers’ GM from 2008-’12 and Bucks assistant GM from 2013-’15. He spent 13 years in the Indiana front office.