Fansided

NBA Rumors: A Chris Paul for Kyrie Irving trade isn’t as crazy as it sounds

By Josh Hill

January 16, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) moves the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 16, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) moves the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Clippers look on the verge of winning back DeAndre Jordan, but could they still be in line for a move that sends Chris Paul to Cleveland?

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Right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to revamp their roster by sparing absolutely no expense, something that has caused the team to spend over $200 million on players not named LeBron. But just how crazy could the revamping of the roster get, and just how outlandish will the front office get in trying to rectify last season’s NBA Finals loss?

Perhaps trading Kyrie Irving is the right move?

That’s not a rumor being kicked around with any sort of seriousness, but it was something mentioned by SI.com’s Chris Mannix and it’s a fascinating concept.

"This isn’t a rumor. At least not yet. But several NBA-types I have come across in recent weeks have posed this hypothetical: Paul for Irving—which team says no?"

This is one of those hypotheticals that you immediately want to toss to the side with as much frustrated disgust as possible — but it’s not really that batty of a scenario. Keep in mind, this was a scenario brought up before the Clippers suddenly got back in on the DeAndre Jordan race and was suggested as a way of turning over the roster.

But still, even with Jordan — which team says no to that trade?

It seems outlandish on the surface but when you dig a little deeper, it’s not crazy at all. On the one hand, Chris Paul wants to win now and he’s not getting very close to that in L.A., despite the rosters that have been placed around him. The furthest that the Clippers have made it in the postseason with Paul has been to the Conference Semifinals — which is as anticlimactic as it gets.

The Spurs were eliminated in the first-round of the playoffs this year and it was more intense then the flimsy flameouts that the Clippers have experienced.

If Paul were to head to Cleveland, he’d be in his prime playing with a LeBron in his prime surrounded by Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov. How does that core of players not make it at least to the NBA Finals and at some point lead things with a chance to win the series?

Meanwhile, the Clippers are all-in and really don’t have a future beyond whatever this current group can do. Blake Griffin is still young enough to be the face of the franchise and carry the Clipps for the next 10-15 years, and adding a young Kyrie Irving into the mix might be the shot of youth the team needs.

Doc Rivers won an NBA title with veteran stars playing with a young point guard. Swapping out Rajon Rondo for Irving could bring about more than one title for Doc Rivers this time around. It’s a trade that makes complete sense for the Clippers, as it gives them a young anchor at point guard and a running mate who won’t swallow up all of the attention that Blake Griffin will soak up.

This is all null and void on the basis that it will never happen — but sometimes the craziest idea in the room is the one that oddly makes the most sense for everyone.

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