Grade the Trade: Cavaliers can leap into Kyrie Irving blockbuster

What would the Kyrie blockbuster trade look like?

For the Brooklyn Nets to move Kyrie Irving, they likely need to get back players who help them win now, as well as some sort of compensation for the future. The Dallas Mavericks are one of the teams interested in Irving, but their difficulty is that they have limited ball-handling and shot creation already. The Mavs don’t want to trade Spencer Dinwiddie, they want to add to him, so the two teams would need a third team to step in with a perimeter creator to spare. Enter the Cavs.

If the Nets decide to move Kyrie, this deal gives them multiple strong pieces back. Caris LeVert has the size to pair with a smaller guard like Seth Curry in the starting lineup, while Jaden Hardy has long-term upside and Tim Hardaway Jr. gives the Nets another shooter. Altogether, this is a lot of value for Irving, even if it doesn’t bring back a star.

The reason the Nets would want the Cavs included is that they need a player like LeVert, at the least, to replace Irving. While Dorian Finney-Smith would be a nice player to have, the Nets have Royce Young and don’t have someone to replace Irving in any way. LeVert isn’t Irving, but he’s not a pushover either.

Dallas is giving up a lot here, but there’s an argument made for their interest here. They need to find a way to add that second star to Luka Doncic, and Irving has a track record, however distant, of being that guy. They get off of Hardaway’s money here and keep Josh Green, which might be enough to make this worth it to them.