Report: Cavs Seeking “Blue-Chip Player plus Assets” For Kyrie Irving

According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers are seeking a blue-chip player and assets in return for Kyrie Irving.

Here’s an excerpt from Lowe’s report:

 Cleveland is seeking a bundle of assets, but the highest priority right now is snagging a blue-chip young player, according to sources across the league. That is not necessarily a signal they think James is leaving. They would like to get everything: one or two veterans who can help LeBron dethrone Golden State, that blue-chipper, and picks. They want to prepare for a worst-case scenario of LeBron leaving without shoving him out the door by acquiring players he deems unready. Even so, the blue-chipper appears to be their guidepost, sources say.

Lowe includes the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans as teams who could have the pieces Cleveland is looking for and although teams have been making exploratory phone calls, there’s no deal imminent involving Irving yet.

Lowe also expresses Cleveland’s awareness of what the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls received in exchange for Paul George and Jimmy Butler, noting that the Cavs front office is looking for a much bigger haul than what those two were traded for.