According to NBA Sirius XM radio host and writer Mitch Lawrence, Kyrie Irving is being discussed in trade conversations, which would send Irving to the Utah Jazz, Paul George and George Hill to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers would receive multiple draft picks from Utah.
Can NBA off-season get crazier? Yup. Kyrie Irving’s name now linked to Jazz with George Hill going to Cavs in sign-and-trade, per sources.
— Mitch Lawrence (@Mitch_Lawrence) June 30, 2017
G Hill to Cavs, Kyrie to Utah, part of potential 3-way, with Paul George the main headliner joining LeBron. Pacers seeking top picks.
— Mitch Lawrence (@Mitch_Lawrence) June 30, 2017
Utah Jazz beat reporter Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune refuted the report, saying there was “no traction” to the Irving rumor.
Per sources, no traction to the Kyrie to Utah Jazz rumor
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) June 30, 2017
According to Lawrence, Hill would execute a sign and trade with the Jazz, but that route for the Cavs to acquire Hill would not be possible with Cleveland’s current roster as constructed and the Cavs’ luxury tax issues.
Mitch – George Hill can't be a part of that to Cavs – a sign and trade in triggers a hard cap, Cleveland over that – so that's illegal
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) June 30, 2017
George is under contract for the 2017-18 season and indicated he would be willing to sign an extension with the Cavs if LeBron James stays next summer.
This report still has yet to be confirmed by other bigger outlets, but it’s worth noting that Lawrence was the first to report Cleveland was targeting Deron Williams as early as January and the report turned out to come to fruition a few weeks later.
If Irving’ s name is being discussed, it doesn’t mean Cavs fans should panic, because teams talk about countless scenarios, which more often than not never reach any further level than “exploratory discussions, ” but it would be a groundbreaking development to learn the Cavs are actually considering moving Irving in the first place.
Irving reportedly would not want to stay in Cleveland long-term if James leaves next summer, which could play a factor into how the front office views his value this summer.
The Cavs don’t have a team president or official general manager, but Kobe Altman has been filling David Griffin’s shoes, running the show in the Cavs front office since owner Dan Gilbert and Griffin parted ways.
It’s been a two-week period filled with criticism for Gilbert, from both Cavs fans, local media, national media, and even LeBron, but if true, the news that the franchise is considering moving Irving is sure to only send the fan base into more of a fervor.
It’s been a wild summer and when free-agency opens up on July 1, expect things to get even more hectic as dominoes fall.
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