Despite the New York Knicks strong interest in trading for the newly available trade block gem Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the organization won't consider trading away unicorn Kristaps Porzingis, according to ESPN's Ian Begley.
The Knicks however would be willing to do a trade with Carmelo Anthony at the forefront, including future first-round picks, according to Begley's sources.
A New Jersey native, Irving could likely see a future close to home in the Big Apple, but the Cavaliers would have to be willing to take a loss on that trade, even if they were to get promising pieces in exchange.
The swap would involve trading away Irving's three-year, $60 million contract for Anthony's two-year, $54 million sum — making this a rather short-term risk in hopes to keep LeBron James aboard.
A potential trade of Irving for Anthony would check the box in a Melo-James partnership, one that the two have wanted for a very long time.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who initially broke the story, the Cavaliers have three options regarding Irving's request to leave.
They can do absolutely nothing, as a request is just a request, doing exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers did in the summer of 2007 when Kobe Bryant requested a trade. The team can stay still and hope the waters turn less turbulent and see if Irving changes his mind if the team achieves some success.
The other two options would be trading for young assets, as most teams choose to do when getting rid of a star player — or swapping for a veteran player that can help the team right away, a rather risky choice.
A trade with the Knicks would symbolize the very last choice, and one that the franchise could lament if the trigger is pulled too quickly.
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