A Kyrie Irving 3-Team Trade Scenario

The already exciting NBA offseason just got more interesting: Kyrie Irving wants out. The Cavaliers want to maximize their roster while they still control LeBron James' rights, so they have a desire to acquire a talented veteran to help them win this year, while also acquiring assets for the future (in case LeBron bolts after this season). While there has been a litany of trade scenarios bandied about, most of the scenarios have focused on two-team trades. Eric Bledsoe, Josh Jackson, and a first round pick from the Suns for Kyrie; Goran Dragic, Wayne Ellington and Justise Winslow from the Heat for Kyrie and Iman Shumpert; Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng from the Timberwolves for Irving; etc. However, it is my belief that adding a third team can help the Cavaliers receive a package that can better benefit them. Below, I will detail a trade that I think can benefit three teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, and the Miami Heat. I invite a discussion after the article.

The Miami Heat receives: G Kyrie Irving and G Kay Felder.

The Cleveland Cavaliers receive: G Goran Dragic, F Carmelo Anthony, C Willy Hernangomez.

The New York Knicks receive: C Tristan Thompson and F Justise Winslow.

The Cavaliers are said to be looking for a veteran player, a young prospect, and a draft pick for Kyrie Irving. This trade may not meet those demands, but it has benefits of its own. Goran Dragic is a former All-NBA point guard, who is not a significant downgrade from Kyrie Irving, though at a more advanced age than Irving. He brings adept finishing ability, as well as good playmaking and 3-point shooting skills. He would be an excellent running partner with LeBron in transition, as "the Dragon" loves to run in transition. Carmelo Anthony would bring scoring and star power to the Cavs, but (perhaps) most imporantly, he would bring a close friend of LeBron. Considering the speculation that LeBron could leave during 2018 free agency, perhaps adding 'Melo would help to entice LeBron to stay an extra year. It could also help with the Cavs' supposed chemistry issues. Willy Hernangomez would bring in a young center, who has a high basketball IQ-- something LeBron would certainly appreciate-- and he could replace the outgoing Tristan Thompson in the power rotation. If the Cavs need to rebuild after this season (i.e. if LeBron leaves), Willy would be a nice piece for the future. Dragic, assuming he stays healthy, should still have trade value after the coming season (particularly on an affordable contract), and could perhaps be flipped for young players and/ or draft picks. The same could be said for Carmelo, who would have an expiring contract. Regardless, for a team hoping to maximize what could be LeBron's final year in Cleveland, having Goran Dragic, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and Kevin Love as four of your starters is a good start. Considering the Warriors' propensity to go small, perhaps this lineup of three 6'8" or taller players would be a good answer if the two teams again met in the Finals. All four of those starters can also score from multiple levels, allowing for a versatile offense, who could potentially match the scoring output of the Warriors' "Big Four."

For the New York Knicks, the obvious benefit is getting rid of the distraction that has been the aging Carmelo Anthony (not that it is necessarily 'Melo's fault). The cost of trading 'Melo's contract would be Willy Hernangomez. However, the Knicks would replace Hernangomez with a still- young Tristan Thompson. Thompson would allow Kristaps Porzingis to operate on the perimeter, while cleaning up misses from a young New York core. He would provide durability, something that Joakim Noah has struggled with, as Thompson has played in 82 games in four of the last five seasons (having played in 78 games last season). Justise Winslow would replace Carmelo Anthony in the Knicks' lineup, and he would add to the Knicks young core of Porzingis, Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Frank Ntilikina. While Winslow has struggled with shooting in his young career (one reason why he does not seem to be a fit with the Cavs), he offers rugged defense, athleticism, playmaking, and the potential for more scoring. Though this trade does not help the Knicks this season, it adds two young, talented players, while setting the Knicks up for another high pick next season. Considering the Knicks are not dealing from a position of strength with 'Melo, this trade would bring a nice return.

The Heat and Pat Riley would receive the whale that they have been fishing for since LeBron left, in Kyrie Irving. Bringing Irving's talents to "South Beach" would create some very interesting NBA storylines, particularly when the Heat and Cavs go head-to-head. It would also add another talented young player to a Heat core in their mid-20's, while giving Kyrie exactly what he wants-- his own team. The Heat would not be significantly impacting a team that went 30-11 in the second half of last season, as Irving should be an improvement over Goran Dragic. Justise Winslow was injured during the Heat's run, and it is already questionable how he would fit with the Heat's current lineup, most of whom have defined roles after last season. Irving and Hassan Whiteside would form a star guard-center duo akin to the Dwyane Wade-Shaquille O'Neal Heat teams. Irving would also reunite with a more-mature Dion Waiters, while joining other talented players like James Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, Josh Richardson, Wayne Ellington, and Bam Adebayo. This would seemingly be enough to compete for a top 4 seed in a weak Eastern Conference. Kay Felder would be a throw in for salary purposes, but he would also give the Heat an electric young spark off the bench.

This three- team trade is one of many possible iterations, between any number of teams, but it seems like it would benefit all three parties. Regardless of what happens, it will be fun to watch how the dominoes fall after Kyrie's trade request.