But repairing the damage done inside the locker room by Irving’s request that leaked out Friday would be no easy feat. If that’s the case, I can’t see James and Kevin Love and J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson convincing him otherwise. But I’m not giving him away for Carmelo Anthony, 33, without a young player and/or draft pick along with him. On Thursday, the Suns hired the Cavs’ James Jones as vice-president of basketball operations; Jones would provide Irving an immediate confidante. I’m not sure that Irving and James can repair their relationship after Irving’s request left James “blindsided and disappointed,” according to Windhorst.

Source: thestar July 22, 2017 23:26 UTC