Spurs, Knicks, Heat, Wolves: Most preferable trade partner for Kyrie Irving?

Kyrie Irving has named his ideal trade destinations according to Chris Haynes. Which team would you prefer the Cavs to deal with?

Shortly after Brian Windhorst dropped the bomb that Kyrie Irving wanted out of Cleveland, fellow ESPN Scribe Chris Haynes tweeted out the places the former No. 1 pick would prefer to be traded.

The list includes the San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat.

So, if your soon-to-beamed GM Koby Altman, where do you ship Irving?

The storyline of the Cavs summer has been the franchise’s search for an additional superstar to help Cleveland get past Golden State in the NBA Finals.

Assuming the Cavs do trade Irving, the organization would probably want to add a great player, although no matter how you shake it, Cleveland won’t be getting equal value for their superstar.

Here’s a rundown of what the teams Irving prefers have to offer:

1. Miami doesn’t have the talent Cleveland be interested in. Hassan Whiteside is their best player. All the heat could offer is a 2020 first-round draft pick. They can’t trade their 2019 pick because of the Stepien Rule, which prohibits teams from trading first-round picks in consecutive seasons.

2. The Spurs have talent, but will be cautious of the players they move because they’re a contending team. They’re certainly not dealing Kawhi Leonard, but LaMarcus Aldridge could be interesting.

Although, the 32-year-old center may not be a great fit for the Cavaliers with the rest of the league trying to get smaller to catch up with Golden State.

San Antonio owns all of their draft picks through the 2021 season.

3. New York Knicks. You’re mind instantly thinks of Carmelo Anthony. But no, the franchise won’t part with Kyrie Irving for Carmelo. The invisible man sitting in the GM chair would laugh at the Knicks for making that proposal.

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With that said, there’s other talent to found on the Knicks roster, and he comes in the form of 7-foot-3 Latvian prodigy Kristaps Porzingis.

Rumors circulated that Prozingis was on the trade block while Phil Jackson was still employed by New York around the time of the NBA Draft.

Divorcing themselves from Jackson seemed to be a peace offering to Porzingis.

But if the Knicks want Irving, it’s going to cost them Porzingis. He’s not Kevin Durant, but his game is similar in that even though he’s so long, he can do it all. Shoot.

4. The Timberwolves may not have the ammo to pull off a trade for Irving any longer.

Minnesota made its move by acquiring Jimmy Butler. It was a favorable trade for the franchise, but it cost them a great young point guard in Kris Davis, and well as another fine young player in Zach Lavine.

What’s the verdict: Keep Irving. As Cavstheblog.com’s Tom Pestak tweeted, keep Irving around, he’ll pout all season as he usually does (except for the All-Star break). By the playoffs he’ll be ready to go.

Next: 5 reasons LeBron stays with the Cavs

But if you’ve got to go with one team, Porzingis should be in the return haul.

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