Report: LeBron didn't want Cavs to comply with Kyrie's trade request

Kyrie Irving wanted out of Cleveland so he could escape LeBron James' shadow and shine on his own team, but James wanted him to stay.

The Cleveland Cavaliers icon was against trading Irving after he informed the team he wanted out last summer, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, presumably in hopes of working out their issues and continuing to contend for championships.

The 25-year-old point guard met with team owner Dan Gilbert in July and voiced his concerns about his role next to James, who could become an unrestricted free agent this summer. It's been reported since that Gilbert then asked the four-time MVP about his future, but he wouldn't commit to the Cavaliers.

Related: LeBron reportedly 'blindsided' by Irving's trade request

Still, the team owner told reporters he expected to see Irving at training camp, even though he knew deep down the situation was beyond repair and a deal needed to be done.

The Cavaliers eventually found a trade partner in the Boston Celtics, from whom they received Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and draft picks in return for the four-time All-Star.

Related: Cavs reportedly pessimistic about current roster's title chances

Windhorst added that while the Cavs were initially excited about the haul, "second-guessing has been developing" amid their up-and-down campaign. Cleveland sits third in the East behind the Toronto Raptors and Irving's first-place Celtics. The 2016 champs recently lost handily to both conference rivals and have dropped nine of their last 12 games overall.

Leading up to their Jan. 3 matchup - which Boston won 102-88 - Irving suggested his former team didn't want him, and James said that notion "makes absolutely no sense."