Imagine if LeBron, Kyrie, and Paul George teamed up in Cleveland! Former Cavs coach Tyronn Lue just spilled the beans on a massive trade attempt that almost created an unstoppable ‘Big 3.’ This unrealized superteam could’ve changed NBA history. What do you think would have happened if they succeeded?
The 2017 NBA offseason, often remembered for its pivotal shifts, nearly saw the Cleveland Cavaliers assemble a formidable “Big 3” that could have dramatically altered the league’s landscape, as recently confirmed by former head coach Tyronn Lue.
Lue’s revelation sheds new light on the ambitious strategy the Cleveland Cavaliers pursued to counter the dominant Golden State Warriors dynasty. The plan involved acquiring superstar forward Paul George to join forces with two of the era’s most dynamic players, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
The strategic move aimed to create an unparalleled offensive and defensive threat, combining LeBron James’s all-around brilliance, Kyrie Irving’s clutch scoring, and Paul George’s two-way prowess. This trio was envisioned as the ultimate weapon to challenge Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson. This attempted formation is a significant piece of NBA Trade History.
The period leading up to the 2017-18 season was fraught with speculation and high stakes for Cleveland. Having faced the Warriors in multiple NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers recognized the need for a significant roster upgrade to bridge the talent gap.
Had the trade for Paul George materialized, the trajectory of several franchises, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Oklahoma City Thunder, would have been profoundly different. The failure of the deal ultimately led to Kyrie Irving’s departure and reshaped Cleveland’s immediate future.
Tyronn Lue, who guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to their 2016 championship, explicitly stated, “We tried to get him,” referring to Paul George. His comments underscore the organization’s relentless efforts to maximize their championship window during LeBron James’s second tenure.
The prospect of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Paul George on the same court ignites fan imagination to this day. Such a superteam could have presented one of the most compelling challenges to the Warriors’ dynasty, potentially altering the outcome of subsequent NBA Finals, marking a critical juncture in NBA Trade History.
This unfulfilled “Big 3” dream remains a significant ‘what if’ in modern NBA Trade History, highlighting the intense behind-the-scenes maneuvers that define the league’s competitive landscape. It also speaks to the continuous quest for dominance by elite teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While the vision never fully materialized, Tyronn Lue’s confirmation provides a fascinating glimpse into the strategic thinking and bold ambitions of the Cleveland Cavaliers during a defining era of NBA basketball.
