Would A Rajon Rondo-Kyrie Irving Swap Work?

Former NBA star Tracy McGrady suggested Boston Celtics‘ point guard Rajon Rondo would be a good fit for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Would a swap of Rondo and Kyrie Irving work?

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Things aren’t going well for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They have started 1-3 and after a blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night, star forward LeBron James and All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving reportedly exchanged words with James challenging Irving to be a better playmaker.

Both players are used to dominating the ball, so they could have a lengthy adjustment period. That’s why former NBA star Tracy McGrady (who is not attempting an NBA comeback) believes Boston Celtics’ guard Rajon Rondo would be a good fit for the Cavaliers.

Although both he and the Celtics have denied it, there was a report during the summer that Rondo had asked the Celtics for a trade. Rondo has been an All-Star in the past but the Celtics may be better off trading him to build around their youth and open up a starting spot for rookie Marcus Smart, the sixth-overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders took a look at how a Rondo-Irving swap could work.

"Cleveland would need to include at least $1.7 million of additional salary going out. Cleveland could package Brendan Haywood (or a combination of players like Lou Amundson and Joe Harris) with Irving to make the numbers work on their end. Amundson cannot be dealt until 12/26/14, as a recently signed free agent.A two-for-one deal for Rondo, with Irving and Haywood to Boston legally works on the Cleveland side, but is it cap worthy for Boston?Irving and Haywood combine to make $9.3 million this season, but since Irving is poison pill, the Celtics would be credited with $18.2 million in incoming salary."

There are a few ways it could work but it seems highly unlikely the Cavaliers would want to part with Irving at all, nevermind for Rondo. From Boston’s perspective, they’d get a young All-Star locked up for the next five years, making any deal for Irving a no-brainer.

Former NBA star Tracy McGrady suggested Boston Celtics‘ point guard Rajon Rondo would be a good fit for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Would a swap of Rondo and Kyrie Irving work?

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