We’re approaching the third week in this Kyrie Irving trade saga, the Cavaliers guard wishing to play elsewhere starting in the fall of 2017.
While he has input a list of the four teams he would like to be traded to, including a New York Knicks team he said he “very badly” wished to play for, his current team is not obligated to deal him to where he wishes.
Somewhere, Carmelo Anthony is shaking his head while reading over his no-trade clause.
It’s actually the Phoenix Suns who have emerged as favorites in landing Irving via trade as they have the most to offer the Cavaliers. Joe Vardon of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Suns could send Eric Bledsoe, rookie Josh Jackson and a 2018 first-round pick for the 25-year-old point guard.
That’s a steep price for the Suns especially with Jackson being heralded as one of the best talents to come out of the 2017 draft class.
And it is probably going to become less likely after Terry Pluto, also of the Plain Dealer, reported on Thursday that Irving is not going to commit to the Suns or any team that he is traded to.
With his contract set to expire following the 2019-20 season, it allows him to control his own fate on where he plays down the road. Even if he pairs up with Devin Booker in Phoenix for a few years, the allure of a larger market like New York might make Irving nothing more than an extended rental.
