A Beginner’s Guide to the Cleveland State Vikings
February 4, 2015Kyle Shanahan gave the Browns a 32-point presentation on why he wanted out
February 4, 2015As he always does when joining for a segment with Tony Rizzo and WKNR’s “Really Big Show,” ESPN.com basketball scribe Brian Windhorst provided some excellent insight in to the Cleveland Cavaliers and their current wart-filled winning streak. Windy discussed Kevin Love’s offensive struggles, the team’s lack of “plays”, and LeBron James’ wrist. But what may be the most intriguing part, at least from a Pulling Back the Curtain standpoint, is the back-channel interworking of James, his marketing firm LRMR, and the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft Andrew Wiggins.
At about the 22-minute mark of his spot on Tuesday morning, Windhorst offered the following:
Let me draw a bit of a map for you. Andrew Wiggins is from Toronto-area Canada, right? Tristan Thompson is from the Toronto area. Cory Joseph, who wound up playing for the San Antonio Spurs, is also from the Toronto area and is also represented by LeBron—by Rich Paul and LeBron. Obviously, you can imagine, because of their relationship with Canadian basketball and getting players out of there that they were on Wiggins as a potential representation player very early and he did not choose to go with them. That choice was made before the Cavs even won the lottery; the decision was made long before that. There was a chance for Andrew Wiggins to “join up with LeBron” before LeBron had a chance to pair up with Wiggins. Just keep that in mind. …
I also think LeBron wanted Kevin Love, so that was a factor. I think the issue is Wiggins said that he never heard from LeBron. Kyrie Irving heard from LeBron. Dion [Waiters] heard from LeBron—that story of ‘get yourself ready.’ They made the deal in mid-July. LeBron had been a Cav for several weeks before the deal was struck and still never reached out to him. You could tell, Wiggins passed up the opportunity to join LeBron’s team…
Windhorst and Rizzo waxed nostalgic about James and Wiggins going at one another in the Wine and Gold’s Recent win. When asked point blank if he believes Wiggins would still be a member of the Cavaliers had he signed with LRMR, Windhorst said, “I do.”
The potential moral of thsi story: Turn your back on #LaFamilia, get sent to Minnesota.
[Related: @WayneEmbrysKids joins Craig on the WFNY Podcast]
12 Comments
And then LeBron goes, “Well LRMR didn’t want you anyway,” and Andrew is like, “Nuh-uh, did too,” and then Maverick is all, “As if.”
Jeez, Windhorst is such a gossip.
and then Flip’s all like “Dang, so that’s what those annoying strings on my back were for! 86 years in the league and I guess I’ll never wise up. This time I really thought I liked the kid.”
What happened to Windhorst? He’s become another gossip whore in the sports field. Seems like just yesterday he was eating multiple Happy Meals while waiting for LeBron to finish practice at SVSM sitting in the parking lot waiting for a crumb of news from The King.
Better question is why do people still listen to Windhorst? Said LeBron wouldn’t be returning to Cleveland. Oops. Said Kyrie and LeBron hated each other and had drifted apart. Oops. Name me something that Brian has been correct on regarding LeBron and the Cavs since he left for ESPN.
I don’t he just won’t go away he’s like a Remora fish swimming alongside LBJ lapping up crumbs.
http://www.bluesci.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/32_focus9.png
Windhorst has been wrong about a lot the past year so I wouldn’t consider him an insider or anything.
this is an exaggeration. He did not say LeBron wasn’t coming back – to the contrary he said (often) that LeBron was dropping hints and it could happen, and that Miami better not assume he was re-signing there. He said LeBron and Kyrie had drifted apart, which was probably true … then, when it was reported. Never said “hated.” Listen to his Friday morning podcast sometime. He’s the most knowledgeable writer about the Cavs there is out there. And it’s not even close. Having said that, sometimes he just loves a good conspiracy theory. Which I hate.
It seems plausible:
—was always strange that LeBron didn’t talk to Wiggins even if he wanted him traded for Love. LeBron talks and befriends all the potential star players.
—LeBron has shown to be vindictive several times in the past. Most recently, spurning BW/ESPN and making sure that Jenkins/SI got the story about his returning to Cleveland.
But, it also seems just a plausible narrative being spun and nothing more. I think is what he repeated over and over and over again. He didn’t even try to go with the anonymous “sources,” so it’s more our fault for paying attention to it than it is BW’s for spinning it.
If true, LBJ is making basketball decisions based on non-basketball criteria.
Brian definitely said LeBron was not coming back. I heard it with my very own ears. Just because you didn’t hear it sure as hell does not mean it didn’t happen.
And you’re right about the hate comment. I was wrong about that. But Brian did report that “if LeBron is going to come back, it won’t be with Kyrie there”. Oops.
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/04/brian-windhorst-kyrie-irving-doesnt-want-to-be-in-cleveland-hat-should-impact-contract-extension-talks/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAzwFN2QNfU
Btw here is the “most knowledgeable writer about the Cavs”. Again, wrong. What Brian hasn’t gotten good at is reporting something then leaving himself an out..