Last month, Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving requested a trade in a meeting with team owner Dan Gilbert and newly-appointed general manager Koby Altman. Now, a few weeks and loads of speculation later, Irving remains.
Will the Cavs acquiesce to Irving’s plea? Maybe, but they don’t have to trade him at all, as he is still under contract for two more years. Furthermore, no team will be able to offer him more money than the Cavs.
Via Dan Feldman of NBC Sports:
“The largest extension Irving could sign within six months of a trade is one year, $21,104,148. By contrast, Irving’s max salary, if he opts out in 2019-20, projects to be about $32 million.”
“Six months after being traded, Irving could sign a three-year extension worth $73,361,218 ($24,453,739 annually). If he waits until July, he could sign a four-year extension worth $101,437,733 ($25,359,433 annually).”
“By contrast, if Irving plays out his contract, then opts out in 2019, his max salary projects to be about $188 million over five years ($38 million annually) if he re-signs, or $139 million over four years ($35 million annually) if he signs elsewhere.”
There have been reports of as many as 20 teams having interest in Irving’s services, including the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, and Minnesota Timberwolves. However, according to Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Irving isn’t willing to commit to any particular team at this point.
“I heard Phoenix would be very interested in dealing for Irving,” Pluto writes in his recent article. “But the Suns would want to know if Irving will sign an extension to stay in Phoenix. His contract is up in the summer of 2018. 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.”
In his 72 games played for the Cavs last season, “Uncle Drew,” as he has came to be known, averaged 25.2 points on 47 percent shooting from the field, 5.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 35.1 minutes per contest. There is no doubt that Irving has been a huge part of Cleveland’s recent success. For now, though, hoops fans will just have to wait for a final decision.