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Denver Nuggets: Three trades to bring Kyrie Irving to Denver

By Kevin Oestreicher

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 29: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics plays defense against the Denver Nuggets on January 29, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 29: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics plays defense against the Denver Nuggets on January 29, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 13: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets on December 13, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 13: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets on December 13, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

There have been rumblings that Kyrie Irving might leave the Celtics in 2019, forcing the Celtics to consider all options

Kyrie Irving is a superstar point-guard. He has some of the best handles in the NBA, as well as a sweet shooting touch. He was a key part of the Cleveland Cavaliers Championship run during the 2015-2016 season, hitting the game winning three pointer over Stephen Curry in Game 7 of a series they were down three games to one.

However, Irving grew disgruntled in Cleveland. He didn’t like the fact that he was the second option on the team behind LeBron James, and felt like he was undervalued by the Cavaliers coaching staff and management. Cleveland traded Irving to Boston for Isiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Žižić, Brooklyn’s 2018 first round pick (Number 8 overall), and a 2020 second round pick.

Irving was a key part of Boston’s season, where they finished with the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 24.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.1% from the floor and 40.8% from three point range. However, he did miss 22 regular season games, as well as all of the playoffs. Injuries have always been a big concern for Irving, as he only played in 11 games in college at Duke and has never played a full 82 game season in his NBA career.

There have been reports that Irving could leave the Celtics in 2019 free agency. While these reports are just talk at this point, while Irving was in Cleveland, he had expressed interest in going to New York to play for the Knicks on multiple occasions. He also won’t commit to re-signing with Boston. This is what Irving had to say when talking about his contract, from 247Sports:

"“Yeah, I just have to take it as being present with the Boston Celtics. You know, and just going into this year with the mindset of trying to win a championship.”"

This isn’t particularly reassuring for the Celtics, and the C’s are rumored to be scared that Kyrie could leave for the Knicks as well. This could mean that the Celtics begin to explore trades for Irving to make sure they get some value back for a player who could leave for nothing.

Denver makes sense as a landing spot for Irving. However, there’s a slim chance Irving comes to Denver. One, because he could very well be a one-year rental, and two, because the Nuggets don’t have the assets that other teams do, but on the off-chance that the Celtics and Nuggets make a deal for Irving, here are three possibilities for what that trade could look like.