Kyrie Irving: Potential Trade Destinations
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst dropped a bombshell on the NBA world on Friday. He reported that Kyrie Irving has requested a trade from the Cavaliers. If Kyrie is indeed moved from Cleveland, here are a few places he could end up.
Windhorst reported that Irving requested a trade last week, seeking a larger role as the primary option on another team. This trade request comes as another revelation in an up-and-down offseason for the Cavaliers. Irving, a perennial All-Star, and premier NBA point guard will have no shortage of suitors when it comes to a potential trade.
Let’s take a look at some of them.
New York Knicks
According to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, Kyrie would prefer to be traded to one of four teams.
ESPN Sources: On Kyrie Irving front, Cavs were given four preferred landing spots: New York, Miami, San Antonio, Minnesota.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 21, 2017
The Knicks are the first team on that list, and a trade involving Irving could be mutually beneficial. From the Cavaliers’ perspective, trading with the Knicks is likely to land them Carmelo Anthony.
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The team has been intent on pursuing Anthony for some time now, and Irving’s desire to play in the Big Apple could be the final factor. In addition to acquiring Carmelo, the Cavaliers would likely receive one or more first round draft picks from the Knicks. Those picks could prove to be very valuable in the next few years.
From Kyrie Irving’s perspective, it’s not hard to see the allure of New York. New York City is the NBA’s largest media market, which would ensure that Kyrie would be in the spotlight, 24/7. Living and playing in New York would give Kyrie the opportunity to boost his brand and become one of the faces of the NBA.
On the court, Kyrie would most likely be paired with Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks’ promising young big man. The Knicks haven’t had a great deal of success since drafting Porzingis in 2015, but the addition of a player like Irving could change that. Kyrie averaged 25.2 points last season with the Cavs, more than any Knicks player did last year. Irving and Porzingis could be a formidable duo in the Eastern conference.