Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving will sign a contract extension if he’s shipped to the San Antonio Spurs, one of his four preferred trade destinations. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Spurs have an interest in Irving while the point guard is willing to commit to an extension with San Antonio. The situation makes for legitimate win-now deal possibilities for Cleveland, said, Wojnarowski. Earlier, there were concerns about Irving’s unwillingness to sign a contract extension with the team that will acquire him from the Cavaliers.
The Phoenix Suns don’t want to trade No. 4 overall pick Josh Jackson for Irving because the latter is not ready to commit to a long-term deal to the team that will trade for him.
Irving prefers to sign long-term deal with Spurs
On the other hand, Irving is willing to sign an extension if he’s shipped to the Spurs, one of four teams that he mentioned to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert when he demanded a trade. The three others are the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Irving demanded a trade because he wants to become the No. 1 option for a team and he’s tired of playing second fiddle to LeBron James. Irving has three years remaining on his five-year, $94 million deal with the Cavaliers but he can opt out after the 2018-19 season.
Spurs could trade Aldridge, Green to Cavs
The Spurs could offer win-now veterans LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green or even Tony Parker to the Cavaliers for Irving. Before the 2017 NBA Draft, the Spurs explored the possibility of trading Aldridge in exchange for a top 10 pick, but they failed to find a taker. However, Cleveland’s next move on Irving hinges on James’ next decision, on whether he will sign a long-term deal with the Cavaliers or leave Cleveland for the second time in 2018.
If James decides to leave the Cavaliers in 2018, the deal involving Aldridge, Green, and Parker could become less attractive to Cleveland, which might turn its focus on young assets. The Spurs currently have talented Dejounte Murray and Kyle Anderson, but both are far from the level of future building blocks for a team.
Currently, the Spurs don’t have a starting point guard as Parker is out for four to five months as he recovers from injury. They are expected to start Patty Mills, who recently signed a four-year deal worth $50 million while Murray will back him up. Irving and Kawhi Leonard could make a formidable tandem for the Spurs.
