If LeBron James leaked Kyrie Irving trade demand, fans of Cleveland Cavaliers should be upset

If LeBron James leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2018, fans should be upset if it’s true that he leaked Kyrie Irving‘s trade demands.

If LeBron James departs the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2018, get ready to be mad Cleveland.

If it’s true that LeBron James leaked the information that Kyrie Irving requested a trade, Wine & Gold Country has every right to be peeved.

It it’s true, LeBron has hurt the Cavs’ ability to move Irving because now other organizations  know Cleveland must act with a sense of urgency.

Yes, “If it’s true…” has already been overused in this post. There’s no proof LeBron leaked Irving’s trade desires, but Irving certainly believes it, according to Stephen A. Smith.

It’s frustrating because James could leave next summer, and now, he’s forced the issue on Irving. It was unlikely the Cavs would get equal value for Irving before the news leaked, now teams are going to try and lowball the Cavaliers as much as they can.

Here’s what Smith said of the LeBron leak:

"“They believe that LeBron James got word of it, and was put off by it, and leaked it. I’m not going to accuse LeBron of such a thing, I don’t know that to be true at all, but I know that’s what Kyrie Irving believes. The mere fact that he has that question, says it’s time to move on.”"

So, LeBron was put off by Irving’s decision? Come on, LeBron. The only reason you’re allowed to be mad about this is if you’re going to stay beyond this season.

If  you leave, and that IS a possibility, you’ve again sabotaged, the Cavaliers future.

If you depart, we’ll miss you, but it would’ve been a lot easier for us this time around knowing we have a face-of-the-franchise in waiting in Uncle Drew.

One can’t but help remember the first time James left the Cavaliers. When he announced his decision, he left the Cavs high and dry. His announcment came a week after free agency had commenced. The Cavaliers had no options in free agency. They were left to swallow their medicine and deal James in a sign and trade just so they could save face by obtaining draft picks.

Related Story: 5 reasons LeBron stays with the Cavs

Perhaps LeBron won’t leave again and he wanted to get out in front of Irving’s demand in order to get this franchise to a point where it can contend with the Warriors.

While the Cavs are unlikely to get another superstar with the same value as Irving, they should be able to get a couple very good players that may actually help close the gap with Golden State.

How will it play out? The soap opera that is the NBA offseason will unfold and training camp will be here before you know it.

Next: What would it take to send Irving to the Magic?

But if LeBron leaves next season, know that your seeds of anger were planted in July of 2017.