If You Can’t Beat ‘Em…
Kyrie Irving's trade situation was officially set in motion.
Of course, a blockbuster deal like this wasn't going to happen overnight.
In the meantime, Kyrie returned to the Cavaliers as if nothing had happened.
His teammates didn't know the details. They just assumed it was another one of Kyrie's moods.
As this was unfolding, the 2017 All-Star voting had kicked off.
When the first returns came in, Han Sen and Kyrie still led all Eastern Conference backcourt players.
By mid-January, Deron Williams suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for two weeks.
Malone had an interesting decision to make. Instead of promoting rookie Dejounte Murray, he gave the role to sophomore Norman Powell.
It was an unconventional move, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise for Cavs fans.
In the two weeks that followed, Powell averaged 8.7 points in 18 minutes per game, shooting 40% from three.
Originally projected as a Tony Allen-type player, Powell—despite standing just 6'4" (1.93m)—boasted an impressive 6'11" (2.11m) wingspan and was already making his mark defensively.
Most importantly, Powell spent a stretch of games sharing the floor with Han and Jokic—and that sparked a realization:
The Cavaliers might not even need a traditional point guard.
Because when Han and Jokic were running the offense, the ball moved more freely than ever.
---
Of course, news this big never stays a secret for long.
By now, reports had surfaced—Cleveland was actively shopping Kyrie.
The Cavaliers had inquired about Mike Conley, who was in the midst of a career year, averaging 20.5 points and 6.3 assists on 40.5% shooting from three.
However, Memphis refused to engage.
To them, Conley's leadership was irreplaceable, something they believed Kyrie couldn't replicate.
New Orleans showed interest in a Jrue Holiday-for-Kyrie swap, but they had reservations about Kyrie's professionalism and refused to include a first-round pick in any deal.
The Boston Celtics aggressively pursued Kyrie, offering a package centered around Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder—
But Cleveland had zero interest.
One thing was clear: Kyrie's trade value had dropped significantly.
His off-court behavior had raised too many red flags, mirroring what Larry Bird had felt earlier in the season.
---
By the end of January, the final results of the 2017 NBA All-Star voting were released.
For the second consecutive year, Han Sen and Kyrie Irving were named Eastern Conference starters.
This wasn't a surprise.
Kyrie's numbers hadn't declined, and with Nike's full-scale marketing machine behind him, his popularity remained sky-high.
But what nobody saw coming?
Nikola Jokic made the All-Star team as a reserve.
Not even Han expected that.
Because purely based on stats, Jokic's 16.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game didn't exactly scream 'All-Star'.
Unlike the starters, All-Star reserves were chosen by NBA coaches.
And it seemed like the coaches saw something that the general public didn't.
Jokic's selection wasn't purely about numbers—
It was about impact.
Cleveland had the best record in the East, and much like Draymond Green's selection the year before, Jokic's versatility was being rewarded.
Plus, the Eastern Conference had been historically weak in recent years.
So while his selection was surprising, it wasn't completely unexplainable.
That didn't stop critics from questioning his spot.
After all, making the All-Star team as a sophomore was rare—especially for an international player with low mainstream appeal in America.
Reporters swarmed Jokic at the Cavs' practice facility, asking for his thoughts on the controversy.
Jokic's answer?
A classic.
"I wouldn't pick me either. I don't even fit the All-Star Game."
Han was standing nearby when Jokic said it.
Judging by Jokic's dejected expression, Han could already guess—
The dude probably had vacation plans.
A real, seven-day vacation.
Because back in 2014, after Adam Silver took over as commissioner, LeBron and other stars had pushed for an extended All-Star break.
Silver had agreed, extending the All-Star break to a full week.
Jokic just lost his biggest break of the season.
There was no way he was happy about it.
The moment Jokic's interview hit the media?
The criticisms vanished.
Not because people stopped doubting his selection—
But because they had nowhere left to go.
---
Not long after the All-Star voting results were announced, David Griffin met with Han Sen. He handed Han a list of trade proposals currently on the table.
The first offer came from the Milwaukee Bucks: Jabari Parker, Greg Monroe, and Matthew Dellavedova.
Parker, a 6'8" (2.03m) forward, was the No. 2 overall pick in 2014. He was averaging over 20 points per game this season and had even developed a three-point shot, attempting 3.5 per game at a 36.5% accuracy.
Monroe, a 6'11" (2.11m) center, would add depth to the Cavs' frontcourt. Dellavedova's return could help replace Kyrie at point guard.
Han took one look at the offer and skipped it immediately.
Parker was an injury-prone, low-impact player. Monroe was completely redundant—Cleveland already had Tristan Thompson, who was a better defender.
And sending Kyrie to Milwaukee wasn't a smart idea. The Bucks already had Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton; the only thing they lacked was a high-level point guard. If Kyrie went there, Milwaukee would instantly become a major problem for Cleveland in the East.
The next offer came from the Phoenix Suns: Eric Bledsoe, T.J. Warren, and their 2017 first- and second-round picks.
Han didn't hesitate to skip this one too. It was essentially Kyrie for Bledsoe, and that was a losing trade in any scenario.
He continued scanning through the trade options, dismissing most of them. Nearly all the offers revolved around point guard swaps, but every deal felt like a downgrade for Cleveland.
Halfway through the list, Han stopped and looked at Griffin. "What about the Pelicans?"
He had read the rumors. He was genuinely interested in swapping Kyrie for Jrue Holiday. Holiday wasn't an elite shooter, but he was an outstanding defender—he could take pressure off Han on that end and also help share playmaking duties.
Griffin sighed. "They're focused on DeMarcus Cousins right now," he admitted. "And Holiday's contract expires this summer—they won't include a first-round pick."
Han nodded. That was a huge risk. If Holiday didn't like Cleveland and walked in free agency, the Cavs would have effectively traded Kyrie for a half-season rental. That would be a disaster.
Finally, Han saw Boston's offer: Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, rookie center Ante Zizic, and a 2017 first-round pick.
To be fair, this was the best offer so far. Isaiah Thomas was at his peak. Crowder was an elite 3&D wing. And the deal included a first-round pick and a young big man.
But Cleveland wasn't sending Kyrie to the Celtics. And there was no way Han was going to play second fiddle to Isaiah, like Durant had to Curry.
Then, Han reached the final offer—and paused.
It was the only deal that involved a third team.
The Bulls had put together a trade where Cleveland would receive Dwyane Wade, Robert Covington, Kyle Korver, and a 2017 first-round pick.
One name immediately caught Han's attention—Robert Covington.
Covington, a 6'6" (1.98m) forward with a 7'1" (2.17m) wingspan, was one of the best 3&D players in the league. Maybe even the best.
Han had firsthand experience—when Cleveland played Chicago, Covington gave him more trouble than Crowder ever did. He could guard positions 2-4 and match up well against LeBron—significantly better than P.J. Tucker.
In the Christmas game, Cleveland had won, but Han couldn't guard both LeBron and Curry at the same time. Adding Covington would be a perfect solution.
As for the other pieces, Wade was still putting up over 18 points per game. Korver remained one of the NBA's deadliest off-ball shooters, a career 40%+ from three. Two years ago, he had shot 49.2% from deep while attempting six threes per game.
Their presence would massively improve Cleveland's bench depth.
And the first-round pick? The Cavs didn't have a first-rounder this year. The Bulls' pick would likely land in the mid-first-round range, potentially adding another solid young player.
After reviewing all the options, Han narrowed it down to two: Chicago's three-team deal, and the Pelicans—if Holiday agreed to an early contract extension.
If they could lock in Holiday long-term, he was the best two-way option. And sending Kyrie to the Western Conference was far better than trading him to an Eastern rival.
---
As February arrived, Kyrie Irving's trade was finally settled.
The Cavaliers completed a three-team trade with the Bulls and Hawks.
Cleveland sent out Kyrie Irving, Mike Dunleavy, and Spencer Hawes. In return, they received Dwyane Wade, Robert Covington, Kyle Korver, and Chicago's 2017 first-round pick.
Atlanta traded Kyle Korver and received Dunleavy, Hawes, and Chicago's 2019 first-round pick.
Chicago sent out Wade, Covington, and two first-round picks (2017 and 2019) to acquire Irving.
Despite weeks of rumors leading up to it, the trade still sent shockwaves through the league once it was finalized.
After all, never in NBA history had a defending champion traded away its second-best player during the season.
LeBron's fans, however, were ecstatic.
For once, they couldn't accuse Han Sen of forming a superteam—because in their eyes, swapping Kyrie for Wade was a clear downgrade for the Cavaliers.
Some LeBron fans were even on the verge of tears.
Since 2003, they had waited 13 long years.
And now?
Finally—finally, LeBron James was about to win his first championship.
The day after the trade, Wade passed his physical. But between handling his move and securing a place to stay, he wouldn't be meeting the Cavaliers team until the following day.
That night, though, Han got a call from Wade.
He didn't say much.
Just one thing—
"Meet me at the practice gym."
On the drive over, Han's mind was racing.
He had initially favored the Bulls' trade package because of Covington. It was a move specifically to counter the Warriors.
Wade? He was more of an afterthought. A coincidence.
But at the same time, Wade was special.
He was the first NBA star Han had ever met.
Before Han even entered the league, Wade had been one of the players who helped guide him.
Yet instead of becoming teammates, they had ended up as rivals.
And Han had repeatedly crushed Wade's championship dreams.
It was a relationship built on both gratitude and conflict.
Now, after all these years—fate had made them teammates at the very end of Wade's career.
Life had a strange way of working out.
It had been eight years since they first met.
Time truly flew.
Han parked outside the practice facility and walked in.
This was Cleveland's newly built training center, a state-of-the-art facility that had only been completed last summer.
Before he even reached the entrance, he could already hear the sound of a basketball bouncing on the hardwood.
Han pushed open the door.
And there was Wade.
The biggest difference from eight years ago?
That wide, chiseled jawline.
If not for his knee issues, Wade—at 35—should still be at the tail end of his prime.
Look at Kobe. At 38, he was still an All-Star.
But Wade's knees had accelerated his decline.
He could still play.
But he wasn't the dominant force he used to be.
Han knew this better than anyone—after years of battling Wade's Miami teams, he had felt the shift in Wade's game firsthand.
Hearing the door open, Wade turned and locked eyes with Han.
His expression was complicated.
Last summer, Cleveland had offered Wade a contract.
He turned it down.
Like David West, Wade was an old-school player.
He had too much pride to join the man who had repeatedly denied him championships.
To him, that would have been no different than surrendering.
But trades weren't a choice.
And honestly, his time in Chicago hadn't been great.
Playing point guard wasn't working out.
Coach Fred Hoiberg had even suggested he come off the bench.
The last time Wade had been a bench player?
His rookie season.
It was humiliating.
So in a way, this trade felt like swapping one humiliation for another.
But as he looked at Han and reflected on their history, Wade let out a small laugh.
Maybe—
Maybe this was just destiny.
---
2017 NBA All-Star Selections
Eastern Conference Starters:
Kyrie Irving, Han Sen, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Eastern Reserves:
Isaiah Thomas, Kyle Lowry, John Wall, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokić.
Western Conference Starters:
Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis.
Western Reserves:
Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol.
(End of Chapter)