The Denver Nuggets will have plenty of competition in the trade sweepstakes for Kyrie Irving, who supposedly “very badly” wants to join the New York Knicks.
Kyrie Irving doesn’t have any real power in deciding where he goes now that he’s asked for a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he’ll certainly make his preferences known and push for the destination that he wants. Many Denver Nuggets fans will be hoping it’s to their rising team, but the latest murmur in this wild situation is that Irving wants to be a member of the New York Knicks.
ESPN’s Pablo Torre mentioned on First Take that Irving “very badly” wants to be a Knick.
When he first asked for a trade, Irving gave the Cavs four teams he’d prefer to be traded to: the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, and, of course, the Knicks.
We’ll probably hear various reports from a range of sources around the league give different indications about what Irving wants over the coming days and weeks. Not long ago on July 21, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported that the Spurs are Irving’s “preferred choice,” and that “the New York Knicks are his ‘I want to live and hang out’ choice.”
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Maybe that’s enough for Irving. After all, seeing as he doesn’t want to play in LeBron James‘ shadow anymore and he’d like to be the man elsewhere, maybe winning isn’t so important and he’d appreciate all the off-court perks that New York City has to offer when he isn’t enjoying his role as the Knicks’ leading scorer. He could have tons of shots next to Kristaps Porzingis and have some fun, at least for two years before he can test free agency. And after Irving grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, he has an attachment to the area that only adds extra appeal. For problem for the Knicks is that they really don’t have much to offer outside of LeBron’s buddy Carmelo Anthony.
Where do the Nuggets fit into the equation? Well, because of the simple truth that Irving doesn’t choose his new team, the Nuggets could still land him if they make the best offer or the “king’s ransom” that the Cavs are after. Cleveland wants a mixture of young talent, veteran help and any other assets (such as draft picks) to complete the deal, which the Nuggets could offer in the form of Jamal Murray or Gary Harris, Wilson Chandler, and another role player such as Kenneth Faried and any pick that could be necessary.
The problem, of course, is how badly other teams want Irving and whether they surpass any offer the Nuggets can make. Denver have lots to offer, but if it’s going to cost them both Murray and Harris, they should say no and keep more of their young core in tact, rather than sacrificing too much for only two guaranteed years of Irving.
Next: The two sides to pursuing a Kyrie Irving trade
Whatever developments emerge in this story, we’ll keep you updated with everything here at Nugg Love. And if you’re wondering about how Irving views the Nuggets, he’s “definitely interested” in them, according to former Nugget and Irving’s old teammate Mike Miller.