The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking for a bevy of assets, including a blue-chip young player, for All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Cavaliers are interested in trading Irving for several players, including two veterans who can help LeBron James dethrone the Golden State Warriors, a blue-chip talent, and picks. Cleveland wants to acquire veteran players and a young talent that they can turn into a franchise player someday.
The Cavaliers currently have no blue-chip young player that they can turn into a cornerstone in case James leaves.
Getting some veteran players is part of the Cavaliers’ preparation for a worst-case scenario of James leaving the team in 2018. The 25-year-old Irving recently met with team owner Dan Gilbert and asked for a trade, claiming he’s tired of playing in James’ shadow and wants to become the No. 1 option in a team’s offense.
Irving’s decision caught the Cavaliers off-guard and put them in a bind after missing out on big-name free agents such as Paul George or Jimmy Butler. Earlier, it was reported that Irving was upset that his name was included in trade talks for George and Butler without his knowledge. Together with his trade demand, Irving mentioned four teams as preferred destinations, including the San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Trade rumors hound Irving
Earlier, the Cavs were reported to be in negotiations with the Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks involving Irving. If the deal pushes through, the Cavaliers would get Carmelo Anthony and Eric Bledsoe, the Suns would land Kevin Love and rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina, and the Knicks would get Irving and Tyson Chandler.
The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly offered Jabari Parker for Irving while the Spurs can deal LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green to the Cavaliers for Irving. With the Spurs, Irving can take over Tony Parker’s role as starting playmaker while the latter recovers from injury.
Wolves also want Irving
Also, Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Timberwolves have approached the front office and asked them to find ways to acquire Irving.
In addition, Butler and Towns are also doing some recruitment as they try to convince Irving to join the Timberwolves. During their USA Basketball days, Irving and Butler developed a close friendship. Recently, Irving expressed a desire to play for the Chicago Bulls alongside Butler but changed his mind when the latter was traded to the Timberwolves on Draft Day. The Wolves can trade veteran point guard Jeff Teague but they can't do it after December 15 because they recently signed him to a three-year deal worth $57 million in the offseason.
