NBA Insider: Kyie Irving Leaving Cleveland? Despite Denials, Rumors That 'Uncle Drew' Wants Out Of The Cavs

An NBA Insider is supposedly privy to the information that the rest of us do not have access to. The real score beyond or behind the statements, press releases and interviews have the real information that drives the league. The latest involve Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

NBA Insider Chad Ford gave this telling response in his weekly chat on ESPN:

"Virtually every GM in the league believes that Grant (Chris, GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers) will be gone this summer if things don't get turned around this season. He doesn't have much time. The thinking is that there's no way [owner] Dan Gilbert is going to let him make another lottery pick if that's the direction the Cavs end up heading. Grant's goal (via his owner) is to get this team competitive and into the playoffs. The [Luol] Deng move was supposed to help. But so far ... nothing. Chemistry is a major issue there and some of that is on Mike Brown. But more of it is on the collection of players in Cleveland at the moment. Something has to happen quick. Kyrie Irving has been telling people privately he wants out. Cleveland can't afford to lose him and LeBron. They know the urgency. I expect them to be major players at the [trading] deadline.''

The reports have irked Kyrie, and at the postgame, he addressed the reports. Transcribed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "There's been so much so-called reports, 'I don't want to be here. That's what you guys get paid to do. There's so much negative attention on me. I know we're struggling but it's not about me. It's about our team. It's about us fighting every day for each other, me fighting for my teammates. Yes, I'm in Cleveland. I enjoy myself. I enjoy going out there and competing at the highest level for the Cleveland Cavaliers. That's what it's about. It's not about me and it's not about this controversy surrounding do I want to privately come out when my contract is up. I'm still in my rookie contract and I'm happy to be here and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be here for a long time. I'm not saying anything to foretell the future, but I'm pretty sure the relationship I have with Dan Gilbert and management extends off the court and I enjoy being here.''

On the issue that he has a rift with Coach Mike Brown: "I'm leaving my trust with coach Brown. I'm riding and dying with coach Brown. We're going through ups and downs together. We're all in this together, everybody in the locker room. We're all going through this together. I have my teammates backs and I know they have mine.''

The notion that superstars would want to leave small market teams always persisted, and is perhaps, the biggest plague in the NBA. It has haunted Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love before. It will haunt Kyrie Irving until Cleveland gets some measure of success.