Kyrie Irving came to believe the camp of LeBron James orchestrated trade talks involving him last June shortly before the departure of David Griffin.

The Cavaliers explored a three-way trade with the Suns and Pacers that would have seen Irving and Channing Frye to to the Suns with Eric Bledsoe and Paul George going to Cleveland. The Suns resisted the scenario over the No. 4 pick. Phoenix used that pick on Josh Jackson.

Team and league sources refute the notion that James' camp initiated the talks as it was Griffin that pursued the deal on his own. Griffin sensed the unhappiness of Irving and was preparing for the possibility that he would request a trade.

Irving remained silent about how the Cavaliers explored trading him when his trade request became public.

"I didn't feel the need to say anything because I knew the truth, and so did they," Irving said. "So it didn't matter what others said. They didn't want me there."