The case for each of Kyrie Irving’s preferred trade destinations

Kyrie Irving is a good enough basketball player that, even if he hasn’t expressed interest in your team, odds are your favorite team called to inquire anyway. Players as good as the four-time All-Star are going to generate interest from almost every team in the league, and it would be silly for even the cellar dwellers to sit back and assume they don’t have a shot.

That said, as always, there are teams with an upper hand in this trade scenario. There are teams with veterans, promising prospects and draft picks, who should woo the Cavaliers if they decide to pull the trigger.

But another commonality in superstar trade season is the player on the block listing his favorites. Kyrie is no exception to this rule.

The four teams he lists have an array of situations with no consistency from location to location. Each team would likely bring a totally different outlook on his future, and his odds of a title vary greatly, especially when considering his current situation.

Read More: The sun will still rise on the Eastern Conference and its stars

While the Cavs have the power to make whatever trade they want, teams will be less likely to pull the trigger and acquire Irving if they don’t think he’ll stick around. He only has two years left on his deal, and the risk of him not extending his contract could be serious if not handled properly.

So, with that, his list of preferred teams may actually hold some weight this time around. Let’s go through them one by one to see what his odds are.

New York Knicks

Veterans: Carmelo Anthony, Kyle O’Quinn, Joakim Noah

Young Studs: Frank Ntilikina

First Round Draft Picks: 2018 and 2019

Likely Untouchables: Kristaps Porzingis

Outlook: The Knicks are in a spot where, unless the Cavs think Carmelo Anthony is enough, this doesn’t seem to be the most likely destination for Irving. Kristaps Porzingis is too valuable, and the Knicks seem to value Ntilikina quite a bit. They do have the picks to add to the pile if they want to, which will help them if they try to keep their rookie around. If they decided they were willing to deal both Ntilikina and Carmelo along with a first or two, perhaps. This may ultimately be a team with plenty of assets, but simply not the right ones.

Fit-wise, it would give Irving the chance to be the team’s go-to scorer. It would put him in the biggest sports market in the country, all while playing next to a stud youngster. His title odds would — temporarily, at least — diminish, but his chance to be the face of the Knicks would be there immediately.

Miami Heat

Veterans: Goran Dragic, Tyler Johnson

Young Studs: Justise Winslow

First Round Draft Picks: None (unless they’re a bottom-eight team next season, unlikely if they acquire Irving)

Likely Untouchables: Hassan Whiteside

Outlook: The Heat don’t have any draft picks either, but they do have an influx of talented vets, and Justise Winslow. Hassan Whiteside seems to be untouchable, while reports have gone back and forth over whether they’ve actually offered Dragic and Winslow for Irving, but the offer sounds like a good pull for them if they decide to do it. The question then becomes whether it’s good enough for Cleveland. If the Cavs value Justise Winslow’s potential, and like the Dragic fit with LeBron and Rose, it could be something.

While they have more to give Cleveland, Irving’s fit in Miami would be similar to New York. Most of the team’s assets would go in the trade, but he’d instantly become the go-to guy with a star big man. He’d have help on the perimeter in guys like Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson, and help inside from newly re-signed James Johnson. But this team would not be a contender, either. Fun, but not scary.

San Antonio Spurs

Veterans: LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green

Young Studs: Kyle Anderson, Dejounte Murray

Draft Picks: 2018 and 2019

Likely Untouchables: Kawhi Leonard (okay, this one is a 100 percent untouchable)

Outlook: The Spurs with Kyrie Irving would be fun, interesting and potentially terrifying. The shooting combo of Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Patty Mills, Pau Gasol, etc. etc. etc. etc., is already a lot to deal with so adding a guy who was 49 percent off catch-and-shoot 3s is a scary thought. The Spurs have draft picks to give up, LaMarcus Aldridge to part with and interesting pieces like Anderson and Murray to send out if Gregg Popovich likes Irivng. Whether the Cavs like Aldridge enough is a major factor too, of course.

But will Popovich want to pull the trigger and give up that much for a system that’s worked so well in the past? It’s possible. Reports are surfacing that the Spurs have already made an offer. Whether it will be to the Cavs’ liking remains to be seen. But they have the pieces to make a reasonable deal. Strap in.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Veterans: Gorgui Dieng

Young Studs: Andrew Wiggins

First Round Draft Picks: Lottery protected OKC pick in 2018

Likely Untouchables: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler

Outlook: This situation will hinge greatly on whether the Wolves are okay with parting with Andrew Wiggins, a 21-year-old with three 20+ point per game seasons under his belt already.  It will also hinge on whether the Wolves can find another team to take on some salary, as they’d likely have to part with both Gorgui Dieng and Cole Aldrich to make this trade work financially. But ultimately, it’ll all depend on how much Tom Thibodeau covets Wiggins. Reports say they’re working out a max extension for him, which could be posturing, the truth or some combination of the two.

Next: Should the Wolves trade Wiggins for Kyrie?

Either way, Irving’s fit with Minnesota would be tricky but fun. He’d be reunited with his Team USA teammate (and fellow Vanessa Carlton enthusiast), Jimmy Butler, and the team would suddenly have three potential All-Stars in next year’s loaded West. He wouldn’t be the main face he reportedly prefers, but he might find it okay after running some pick and roll with Karl-Anthony Towns. This could be Minnesota’s way to become a contender for the first time since KG’s first time around. It all depends on financials, and how good they think Andrew Wiggins will become.