There have been recent reports that Kyrie Irving’s preferred destination for a trade is New York to play with Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks. The problem for the the Knicks in going out and acquiring Irving is that they have a general lack of assets to really entice the Cavaliers and match Cleveland’s high demands for their All-Star point guard.
The Cavs want a starting caliber player, a quality young asset on a rookie deal, and a future first round draft pick, per reports. The Suns are the team that most point to as the organization that can most easily make that happen, and Cleveland reportedly has a package in mind that they would say yes to, should the Suns provide it. Beyond Phoenix, it’s a bit trickier to find teams to meet Cleveland’s demands and the Knicks are not really on that list.
The only possible way for the Knicks to meet those demands would be to send Carmelo Anthony, this year’s first round pick Frank Ntilikina, and a future first to the Cavs, but there are two problems. One is that Cleveland reportedly has little interest in Anthony, who at this point is best playing the four, which is already the spot best kept by Kevin Love and LeBron James.
The other problem is that, according to the New York Post‘s Marc Berman, Anthony has no desires to waive his no-trade clause to go to Cleveland amidst the chaos that is currently taking place with the Cavs.
A stalemate has ensued as sources indicate Anthony only wishes to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Rockets. Not even Cleveland, which is in turmoil, is good enough for Anthony as the Cavaliers are dealing with Kyrie Irving’s trade demand.
That should, in effect, kill any hopes that the Knicks had for landing Kyrie Irving, barring some bizarre 3-team deal involving the Cavs, Houston, and the Knicks — which is still very difficult to find something palatable for the Cavaliers in that scenario. As we’ve seen over the past year, Anthony has no problem being stubborn with his no-trade clause and will stay in New York for as long as he pleases if the Knicks won’t accommodate his demands.
Of the three teams, the Rockets are in the best position. They can hold out in hopes that the Knicks get desperate and will send them Anthony in return for Ryan Anderson’s massive deal and scraps. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, have to hope someone comes to the table with a legitimate offer for Irving that comes at least close to his value, or else they will be in for an incredibly awkward training camp.
