5 reasons why the Cleveland Cavaliers should not trade Kyrie Irving

2. Cleveland cannot risk trading for future assets

Generally how NBA trades involving stars work is that the team sending out the star receives a collection of young talent and draft picks. Unless you’re the Indiana Pacers, it’s more attractive to open up an opportunity to draft or develop a true replacement rather than run with more expensive veterans who have reached their potential.

The problem with that is Cleveland isn’t preparing for their future — they’re trying to win now. LeBron James makes a decision whether or not to leave for another team next July, and if Cleveland flips Kyrie Irving for prospects and picks, they both limit their ability to win this year and make it more likely LeBron heads to a team more on his timetable.

A team such as the Denver Nuggets would offer a potential replacement for Irving in Jamal Murray. Paired with another young talent (Gary Harris, Tyler Lydon or Juancho Hernangomez) and a couple of veterans such as Wilson Chandler, Kenneth Faried or Will Barton, a deal with salaries in the right range could be put together.

The problem is that LeBron James and the Cavaliers cannot expect second-year guard Murray to step up and play championship-caliber basketball. He has plenty of talent and may even reach a similar ceiling as Kyrie Irving, but for 2017-18 he will not help Cleveland win games. That’s a path this team cannot pursue at this point in their franchise timeline.