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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 – JUNE 21: NBA Draft Prospect, Frank Ntilikina speaks to the media during media availability as part of the 2017 NBA Draft on June 21, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK – JUNE 21: NBA Draft Prospect, Frank Ntilikina speaks to the media during media availability as part of the 2017 NBA Draft on June 21, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Trade Proposal No. 3: Including Ntilikina

Kyrie Irving and Frank Ntilikina would be a dream pairing, but that may not be a possible outcome here.

If Carmelo Anthony and two first-round draft picks isn’t enough to get Irving, the New York Knicks will need to dig deeper—and it’s likely that such an event will transpire. More specifically, the Knicks will need to accept the need to replace the point guard Cleveland would be losing.

In turn, the offer becomes one that Cleveland may actually be inclined to accept: Anthony and Ntilikina for Irving and Channing Frye’s contract.

Ntilikina was selected at No. 8 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, and is widely regarded as the point guard with the highest defensive ceiling in his class. Standing at 6’5″ with a projected 7’0″ wingspan, Ntilikina has the size, length, and range to lock opponents down.

If Ntilikina’s defensive tools and intriguing outside shot translate to the NBA, he could be an invaluable asset for LeBron James, Anthony, and the Cavaliers.

Losing Irving would hurt, but Anthony would be trusted to close out games in the way Irving has been able to. Ntilikina would be a downgrade from Irving in many regards, but Irving is an inconsistent defender—the area in which the Frenchman projects to excel.

Cleveland may ask for a 2018 first-round draft pick—and it could be worth giving one up—but this trade could work for both teams.

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