What a possible Kyrie Irving trade means for the Sixers

By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Many thanks to Ben Simmons, the Sixers have been in the news the last couple days.

And it doesn't have to do with the NBA Draft, injuries, or "The Process."

Well, at least directly.

Ben Simmons has been a great presence on social media for the team, especially when it has come to interacting with LeBron James.

Now, for a variety of reasons, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving has reportedly asked for a trade from Cleveland to another destination.

He cited many reasons, but he most notably mentioned his disinterest in playing with LeBron.

Two seasons ago, thanks in large part to LeBron, and a major contribution from Kyrie Irving, the Cavs won Cleveland their first championship in over 50 years.

The Golden State Warriors, at this point in the NBA spectrum, have absolutely transformed the league into one where teams now have to field this "super team," just to have a chance to win one championship.

Going into the 2016-17 season, the Warriors knew that a combination of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and now Kevin Durant would send shockwaves around the league and cause a panic among teams. They wanted to knock off the Cavs and they went through enormous lengths to meet their goal.

Now that the Warriors have achieved their biggest goal in taking down LeBron, it seemed only fitting that the Cavs would do whatever it took to get to that next level.

Unfortunately, the cookie hasn't crumbled in the direction they have hoped. It seems that the Warriors not only beat the Cavs to win their second title in three seasons, they actually destroyed the franchise from the inside.

Remember in Captain America: Civil War?

The bad guy from Sokovia actually got Cap and Iron Man to literally hate each other in order to take down the Avengers from the inside.

Minus superpowers, this is exactly what it seems like is happening with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs were at the top of the world, and when the Warriors thwarted that, they realized that with the league changing around them, they would never reach that next upper level.

So where does the Sixers come into play here?

The Sixers are involved in this ordeal not because of Kyrie Irving, or LeBron, but because the Cavaliers are crumbling, and let's face it, Cleveland was THE East last season, and really, they've been sitting at the throne for three seasons in a row.

Kyrie leaving Cleveland means that the team has lost complete control of their players. LeBron was already frustrated with the team as it is, and seemed like he was going to be on his way out before.

Now, with a potential Kyrie trade to literally anywhere, the fate of LeBron rests in two destinations that I mentioned the other day.

Related: Why LeBron James could join the Sixers in 2018

Los Angeles and Philly now have more of a chance to recruit LeBron to come to town.

The point is though, that it's less that the Sixers could lure LeBron, and more that the Sixers have a greater chance of contending in the Eastern Conference without the Cavaliers at the top.

If the Sixers can find a way to win this upcoming season, with the Land crumbling in the process, LeBron would be silly not to sign with Philly in 2018.

If the Kyrie Irving potential trade out of Cleveland means anything to Philly fans, it's more of a positive and clearer outlook to the greatness that lies ahead.

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