On Friday, Brian Windhorst reported that Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving asked the team for a trade last week. 

The main reason for Kyrie Irving’s request is he no longer wants to play alongside LeBron James (weird, I know). Further, he intends to be a full-time point guard and led a team the way James does. With a player of Irving’s caliber, a slew of franchises are going to be interested.

San Antonio is Kyrie’s preferred destination, but the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks are reportedly interested in the 25-year-old’s services. ESPN’s Ian Begley wrote that the Knicks have a “strong interest” in Irving. Any deal for him would include future first-rounders and Carmelo Anthony, who’s been all of the news this summer with trade rumors. However, the team isn’t willing to offer up Kristaps Porzingis.

In the other conference, Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns have been busy trying to sway Irving to join them in Minnesota. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the duo has been “doing their part” to convince Irving to play with them. Butler and Kyrie have fostered a relationship through USA Basketball, while Towns and Irving have built their connection through the northern New Jersey basketball pipeline, and their fathers have also developed a similar bond.

Also Read: Minnesota Fleeced Chicago For Jimmy Butler

For that trade to happen, newly-acquired Jeff Teague would likely be involved. The only issue is that the Wolves aren’t allowed to trade him until Dec. 15 because he signed with them as a free agent, according to NBA policy.

Kyrie Irving is an incredible talent, and any team in the league would benefit from trading for him — even if they gave up just a bit too much. However, of the three teams listed above, it’s puzzling that Irving would want to go to any of them. He hasn’t come out and said he wants a trade to Minnesota or New York, but even going to the Spurs would be odd.

He wants a bigger role, and you can’t blame him. Over the last three years, Irving’s had jaw-dropping moments, but they’ve come as James’ sidekick. When you play with the best player in the NBA, there’s no chance to be the first-option full-time. Dwyane Wade knew that and willingly took a backseat, but Irving is still young and hasn’t yet hit his prime.

Going to San Antonio doesn’t give him a larger role. They play more unselfishly than Cleveland, but it’s Kawhi Leonard‘s team, and neither he nor Gregg Popovich is going to relinquish that control. New York and Minnesota are the same. There’s a reason the Knicks won’t include Porzingis in any deal — it’s because he’s their cornerstone. Irving would yet again have to play sidekick. On the Timberwolves, there’s the chance that Irving wouldn’t be the full-time second-option.

They have Towns and Butler, the two go-to guys. Then, there’s Andrew Wiggins, who’s in talks about a five-year extension worth close to $148 million. Irving is a better player than the Canadian high flyer, but that disparity isn’t as wide when it comes to Towns and Butler and Irving. Both Kyrie and Butler are stars teetering on superstardom, and Towns will be at that level shortly if he continues to develop at this rate.

It’s a tricky situation for the Cavaliers. Dealing Irving almost guarantees LeBron’s move out West next summer, and Cleveland would be back to rebuilding. Even if they get a quality package, it’s hard to replace what Kyrie does because he’s such an exceptional talent. With that said, Cleveland would still probably waltz through the East and reach the Finals. Once they get there, though, it’d be a whole other ball game. On the flip side, they’re not forced to trade him.

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