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Knicks Trade Rumors: Five trade proposals for Kyrie Irving

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK CITY - DECEMBER 7: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots during a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK CITY - DECEMBER 7: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots during a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12: Kyle O’Quinn #9 and Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks greet each other before the tipoff against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12: Kyle O’Quinn #9 and Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks greet each other before the tipoff against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Trade Proposal No. 1: Get Cleveland To The Table

In order to acquire Kyrie Irving, it must be accepted that Carmelo Anthony will need to be traded. Anthony is not only appealing for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ title window, but is close friends with the franchise player who doesn’t want to be traded: LeBron James.

Accepting that Anthony will need to be included in every trade scenario, we start big and acknowledge the facts: Cleveland needs defense and at least one future first-round draft pick.

Kyle O’Quinn isn’t a great defender, but he’s an outstanding rebounder and a more than capable shot-blocker. He finished the 2016-17 NBA regular season with averages of 14.5 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.6 offensive rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 1.1 steals per 36 minutes.

Not only is O’Quinn an excellent rebounder, passer, and shot-blocker, but he’s on a team-friendly contract—and Cleveland would have his bird rights next summer if he were to opt out.

With Anthony and O’Quinn in the fold, the Knicks add another necessary asset: the 2018 first-round draft pick. It may take multiple picks, but in this first scenario, New York gives Cleveland what could be a lottery pick in a Kobe Bryant in 2004-05 type of situation.

This is more of a, “Get Cleveland to the negotiating table,” type of offer, but it’s one that could at least pique the interest of the Cavaliers’ front office.

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