Why Boston could be the ideal trade partner for Kyrie

Why the Boston Celtics can offer the most intriguing trade package for Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving.

When Kyrie Irving first requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, he gave team owner Dan Gilbert a list of four teams he would prefer to go to. According to a report from ESPN’s Chris Haynes, those teams are the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and his hometown New York Knicks.

However, Cavs former general manager David Griffin also included the Boston Celtics as a team Irving would also possibly like to go to when he was featured on ESPN’s The Jump (h/t CSNNE).

"David Griffin on The Jump  (h/t Ball Don’t Lie’s Ben Rohrbach): “This is a guy whose list included really good coaching situations – Brad Stevens and Popovich.”"

"David Griffin on The Jump  (h/t Ball Don’t Lie’s Ben Rohrbach): “Again, the teams on his list – Gordon Hayward in Boston and Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio- he would be accompanied by other great players…”"

I know, at first thought trading Kyrie to the Boston Celtics seems absurd. After all, why would you trade one of the most talented and gifted offensive players in the league to your biggest threat in the Eastern Conference?

Here’s why.

There aren’t many teams that have as many assets to offer in a trade like Boston can. They have an abundance of first round draft picks for years to come. In addition to quality draft picks, they have quality young players to offer as well.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Cleveland wants a young star in return for Kyrie. One of those players who was named was Boston’s very own, Jayson Tatum. Boston has knowledge of Cleveland’s interest in Tatum but it’s not yet known if they’ve made him available in an offer for Irving.

Not only do the Celtics have young players and draft picks to trade but they have All-Star talent they can trade away as well. One of those All-Stars goes by the name of Isaiah Thomas. Thomas just came off his best season as a pro by far last year, averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from three-point range and 90.9 percent from the free-throw line.

Inserting Thomas into the Cavs’ Big Three with LeBron and Kevin Love would be very intriguing to watch. It’s possible that the Cavs team would run much like they did before, considering Thomas’ talents on the offensive end and his reputation in both clutch moments and on the defensive end.

With the young talent Boston has stored away, it would be a disservice to them to not offer at least one player along with Thomas, whether it be Jaylen Brown or Tatum, considering that Thomas is only under contract for one more season and could very well sign with a different squad in the 2018 offseason.

While it’s obvious Boston can offer what’s potentially the best package of draft picks, young players with star potential, and All-Star caliber players, it’s still unclear if the Celtics will ever propose a trade for Kyrie although it’s clear that they have interest in him.

If the Celtics ever do send a trade Cleveland’s way, the Cavs would be irrational not to listen.

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