The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the midst of one of a very confusing time in their franchise. Following three seasons of going to the NBA Finals, guard Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland to pursue a bigger challenge than playing under the shadow of star LeBron James. While the trade request came as a surprise for virtually the entire NBA and it's fanbases, the Cavs have no time to dwell on what's happened to get this point, instead having to focus on the best possible offer they can get for their 24-year old superstar.
In the meeting where Irving told the Cavs front office he wants to be traded back in early July, he also reportedly named four teams he would like to be traded to: the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and the Miami Heat. Of those four, none really have what the Cavs want or are willing to give up enough to nab Irving from Cleveland. On top of that, Irving does not have a no trade clause, so the Cavs aren't limited to looking at those four teams as the only trade partners for him. As of Thursday morning, it doesn't look like they're in any particular rush to trade Kyrie Irving, but should they be?
Just before the start of free agency this offseason, the L.A. Clippers had to deal with the predicament of Chris Paul's request to be traded to the Houston Rockets. Following a Wednesday night meeting with coach/President of Basketball Ops Doc Rivers and VP Lawrence Frank, just two days before the start of free agency, it was clear Paul wanted to move on. On Thursday morning, Paul was traded in a swift deal that was beneficial for both sides: Houston got Paul while the Clippers received a package involving Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell.
In losing Paul, the Clippers got the best possible deal done after he opted into the final year of his deal and said he wanted to be traded. Despite not urgently looking for a trade, that is something the Cavaliers are going to have to try and pull off with their reportedly disgruntled point guard in Kyrie Irving. Their situations aren't nearly the same, as Paul was set to become an unrestricted free agent while Irving is still under contract, but the Clippers quick action in handling the situation yielded great results.
According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, the Cavs are looking to acquire an established veteran starter, a solid young player on a rookie deal, and a draft pick in exchange or Irving. Thus far, it seems like the Cavs are only able to get teams to agree on two of the three.
The Phoenix Suns have been unwilling to trade Josh Jackson in a deal including Eric Bledsoe and a pick.
The Miami Heat reportedly offered Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow, but did not include anything more in the offer.
The Timberwolves have been unwilling to include Andrew Wiggins in any trade as they're looking to sign him to a five-year rookie extension before the season starts.
The Knicks will be unable to facilitate a trade involving Carmelo Anthony going to Cleveland as long as remains adamant about not waiving his no-trade clause.
Usually when a player is unhappy with his situation and requests a trade, his value on the trade market diminishes. The latest case could be seen with Paul George and the Indiana Pacers, who got far less than anyone anticipated. Irving, on the other hand, is a young superstar that has two years left on his deal, including a player option the third year. Although he has said that he won't commit to any team he gets traded to, Irving wants the chance to lead his own team and two years with any team should certainly be enough to prove their seriousness towards building around him.
Obviously, the Cavs aren't worried about what kind of situation Irving lands in and moreso worried about the return they get for the young guard who has yet to reach the prime of his career. Considering the current max contracts in the NBA reaching upwards of $30 million, having Irving on a team while making $18.8 million in 2017-18 and $20.1 million in 2018-19 has to be incredibly appealing to teams interested in trading for him.
The Clippers were able to recover from Paul telling them he wants to leave, facilitated a trade rapidly, and got very solid bench depth in exchange for him. The Cavs, who have been among the oldest teams in the NBA thanks to the wealth of experienced veterans like James Jones, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, Kyle Korver, and Jose Calderon, will certainly need to acquire young talent that provides them with a solid future and immediate depth at multiple positions. The soonest they find a deal that satisfies them, they should take it.
Follow Us
Subscribe