As the Kyrie Irving trade saga rumbles on, more and more wrinkles are being found. According to Terry Pluto of cleveland.com Irving is unwilling to commit to any team, including the Cavaliers, until he hits free agency in 2019. Irving has a player option of $21.3 million that year and a 15% trade kicker.
Pluto mentions Irving’s distaste for a contract extension with any team while discussing the Phoenix Suns as a possible trade partner. “…the Suns would want to know if Irving will sign an extension to stay in Phoenix”, Pluto writes. “I’m told Irving is not about to commit to any team at this point. He has two seasons left on his contract and wants to keep his options open.” Irving is currently in the midst of a five-year $94 million deal with the Cavaliers. The two years of control is very valuable to a team in contention now, but may not make sense to a young team rebuilding like Phoenix.
The Suns have expressed interest in trading for the star point guard, but he could leave the franchise in two years. This forces Phoenix to reconsider adding assets like draft picks and Josh Jackson to a trade, should Irving appear likely to bolt from the desert. The Suns have already expressed that Jackson is off the table, but LeBron James is reportedly interested in acquiring the rookie out of the University of Kansas.
Irving highlighted four teams he is interested in joining, the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat. Phoenix is not among those, which is certainly concerning for them. Dealing first-round picks and/or Jackson only to see Kyrie leave would set the franchise back. It is understandable to be hesitant in dealing so much for a player who does not seem to have any clear plans other than to get out of Cleveland.
