Chauncey Billups knew Kyrie Irving wasn't happy while interviewing with Cleveland Cavs

Chauncey Billups said he was aware Kyrie Irving was unhappy when he interviewed last month for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ opening as president of basketball operations, which he ultimately withdrew from after two weeks of interviewing with owner Dan Gilbert.

“(Irving's trade request) didn't surprise me, I knew as (the Cavs) were doing their due diligence on me I was doing the same thing on them," Billups said in an interview on the Vic Lombardi Show on Altitude Sports 950 AM in Denver on Tuesday. "I knew so much about the situation that the rest of the world doesn't know. But it's unfortunate man because he's a special talent. So much of what he's been able to accomplish on and off the floor has been as the beneficiary of LeBron James. That would be alarming to me if I was a team looking to get him.”

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Irving requested a trade from the Cavaliers last week, likely tired of playing in James' shadow. Billups was quick to point out he doesn’t think that logic makes much sense.

“You're getting everything you want," Billups said. "You're getting all the shots you want, you're playing for a great coach, when the game is on the line they're coming to you, you're playing on national TV every week. To me, I don't get it. Everybody has their own desires. Maybe he wants to be Russell Westbrook and go try to win the MVP and get all the shots. That's the only sense I can make of it and to me that doesn't make sense.”

Billups said part of his decision making with the Cavs’ opening had to do with the organization’s not-very-bright future should James leave after the 2017-18 season as a free agent next summer. USA TODAY Sports previously reported LeBron James was frustrated with the direction of the Cavaliers’ offseason following the departure of GM David Griffin.

“Rebuilding is a beautiful thing if the (owner) is going to have the patience with you,” Billups said. “What bothered me more than if LeBron left or not was I didn't think they had great assets if you have to do a rebuild. It was more that than ‘Bron. ‘Bron and I have always had an amazing relationship.”