LeBron James has a lot of confidence in the Cleveland Cavaliers roster for this upcoming season and for good reason. The team has Kyrie Irving as a solid point guard, plus trading for Kevin Love instantly made them championship contenders. Mix in veterans like Mike Miller and young shooters like Dion Waiters and the Cavaliers have one of the better groupings of players in the league. James is particularly excited for Irving whom he believes could be the best point guard in the league.
One thing James has never had was a star point guard passing him the ball during his 11-year NBA career. The Miami Heat did not have anyone, relying on Mario Chalmers for the most part. Mo Williams and Sebastian Telfair did not fit the part in James' first stint with the Cavaliers, but Irving does. The young star is coming off a fresh contract extension with the team and James believes he will be the major factor in getting the Cavaliers to the postseason.
"It's part of the reason I came back. I think he can be the best point guard in our league," James said, via Slam Magazine.
James certainly is not wrong. At 22, Irving is putting up 20.8 points and 6.1 assists per game. His play has improved in each season with Cleveland and while he still needs work on the defensive side, Irving will only get better with James and Love running next to him. On his part, Irving is hopeful that James helps him become a better leader on and off the court, something he is striving for as he makes this next leap in his career.
Re-signing Irving to a long-term extension was one of the many ways the Cavaliers won the offseason, but are they done making moves before training camp begins? There are still rumors circulating regarding a trade of Tristan Thompson which could be something the Cavaliers explore for the right return. According to Grantland.com, a trade of Thompson is something the Cavaliers should at least attempt to explore. The forward would have a solid return rate and could fill the hole on a roster for any team in need of a big man.
Right now, Thompson will be coming off the bench for Cleveland after the additions of Love and James. The Cavaliers believe he is extremely valuable in that spot, but with an expiring contract to his name, it could be looked at in the near future.
