NBA Trade Rumors: Celtics call Cavaliers about Kyrie Irving

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 23: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 23, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Boston Celtics have called the Cleveland Cavaliers about a potential trade involving Kyrie Irving. Is there a chance Irving is dealt to the Celtics?

The Celtics may not be as enamored with Isaiah Thomas as most pundits would suggest. The Celtics have officially thrown their hat in the Kyrie Irving sweepstakes. Part of a potential trade with the Cavaliers would involve Thomas heading back to Cleveland. It’s not surprising Danny Ainge, the Celtics general manager, has interest given the fact that his mantra that every player is just an asset. Although Irving listed the Knicks, Spurs, Heat and Timberwolves as teams he would be eager to play for, he does not hold a no trade clause.

Zach Lowe of ESPN had the following on the Celtics interest in the Cavs superstar.

"“Most teams, including the asset-rich Celtics, have placed the obligatory call letting Cleveland know they would like to be kept in the loop, sources say. Boston could offer Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and one of their golden picks — Brooklyn’s pick next season, or the Lakers/Kings pick they got from Philly in the Markelle Fultz deal. It’s unclear if they would dangle all of that, but those picks could represent the young stud Cleveland needs. Regardless, a deal between the East’s two best teams seems unlikely.”"

It’s obvious the Celtics can offer the best trade package because they have the most assets in the league. Boston has a gluttony of first round picks and young players they can offer to Cleveland. Isaiah Thomas is no slouch either after he averaged 28.9 points per game a year ago. Adding a player like Jae Crowder who’s on a cheap contract for three more years only makes the C’s offer more tempting.

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Maybe the rivalry makes a trade between the two parties rather difficult. The Cavs will have to fend off the Celtics in the East once again this season after defeating Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016-17. Nevertheless, Cavs GM Koby Altman has to make the best deal for his franchise and it may just be with the hated Boston Celtics. It’s unclear what the current asking price is for a player that has already requested a trade.

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