Cavs’ Irving says he’s happy in Cleveland

Akron Beacon Journal

LAS VEGAS

Kyrie Irving is excited about the additions made to the Cavaliers roster this summer and said Monday he is happy to be in Cleveland.

Irving, who will have the opportunity to sign an extension with the Cavs next summer, dismissed a report last week from a New York-based radio host that he is anxious to get out of Cleveland.

“I’m a Cavalier right now, I’m happy to be a Cavalier,” Irving said. “I kind of had a sarcastic approach to (the report) because it was a rumor starter. I don’t think he knows anybody in my camp and I don’t know who the guy is. That type of stuff I don’t pay any attention to. Right now I’m a Cleveland Cavalier and I’m happy to be here.”

Irving, along with Cavs teammates Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller, is back in Vegas this week for a USA Basketball minicamp. It is just the latest stop on what has been a whirlwind summer for Irving. He returned to Australia in July for the first time since his early childhood days, he has been to Las Vegas a couple of times already and he spent last week back on the campus of Duke.

The last time Irving spoke with the Cleveland media was immediately following the regular season, when he seemed down over the firing of Byron Scott. Irving went so far as to say he felt like he had lost his basketball father.

“I’m over it,” Irving said Friday. “We’re all entitled to have emotions on it. At the time, I was disappointed Coach Scott had left. I’ve turned the next page and I’m looking forward to developing a new relationship with Coach Brown and our coaching staff.”

Irving sounded intrigued by some of Mike Brown’s ideas for next season, which include playing him off the ball at times at shooting guard when Jarrett Jack is on the floor.

Brown wants to see Irving come off screens more — something he rarely did during his first two years in the league — to take better advantage of his shooting skills.

Brown said last week that Waiters will be a shooting guard exclusively this season in part because of his athleticism.

Brown wants him to get out and run in transition rather than always circling back and looking for the ball.

In all, Irving sounded genuinely excited about the additions the Cavs made this summer after two seasons of constant losing, and believes the Cavs have positioned themselves as playoff contenders.