Fansided

Ranking all of Bill Simmons’ Kyrie Irving trade ideas

By Joe Romano

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 25: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Chicago Bulls and Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on February 25, 2017 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 25: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Chicago Bulls and Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on February 25, 2017 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Ringer’s Bill Simmons has plenty of fake trade ideas for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving. We ranked them all.

When news of Kyrie Irving trade request went public millions of people hit the trade machine to see if their favorite team could land the superstar point guard. After a viral weekend it is looking inevitable that Irving and the Cavaliers are heading for a divorce. The Maestro of the Trade Machine, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, has jumped at the opportunity to find landing spots for Irving. Since July 21, Simmons has posted six hypothetical trades; some more plausible than others. We are going to rank these six trades from most likely to occur to not a chance of happening.

6. No way this happens!

Cleveland Cavaliers get: John Wall

Washington Wizards get: Kyrie Irving

Shake-up the Eastern Conference.

As shown by the Trade Machine, the salaries work. Simmons posted this prior to Wall signing his extension in Washington, which had to be a factor in his thinking. Wall was reluctant to sign the “super-max” at the beginning of the off-season but has since changed his mind and his new salary will kick in for the 2019 season.

This trade does not make sense for either team, aside from a change of scenery for two star point guards in the Eastern Conference. Simmons has been adamant that Wall wants out of Washington after the Beal contract saga and Wall’s comments about billboards in the D.C. area.

On the court, Wall and Irving play different games but are both considered top point guards. Irving is a much better halfcourt player than Wall but lacks the playmaking and defensive ability that puts Wall in a special category of point guards.

It would be interesting to see Wall next to LeBron, however the loss of Irving’s outside jumper might cramp the king’s driving lanes. Irving could flourish in Washington running the pick-and-roll with Marcin Gortat and having Beal/Porter spacing the floor.

In the end, neither team would pull the trigger on this trade. Wall is the face of Washington basketball and the engine that makes it go.

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