Portland Trail Blazers: Analyzing a potential Kyrie Irving trade

Should the Portland Trail Blazers propose a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving? Here’s why and why not.

Believe it or not, the Portland Trail Blazers are in the perfect position to trade for Kyrie Irving.

Not only do they have a franchise player for the Cleveland Cavaliers to consider, but this trade would give Rip City the kind cap flexibility they so desperately need.

That being said, I want to make it undeniably clear that I do not believe that this trade ever comes close to fruition. No matter how much sense it makes for both sides, I just simply don’t see the Blazers pulling the trigger.

Nevertheless, please humor me as we dive into why this trade should happen, as well as why the Blazers wouldn’t ever consider trading away Damian Lillard.

Trading for Kyrie gives Blazers financial flexibility

Prior to this piece, I suggested the Blazers needed to break up their backcourt if they wanted to move into the upper echelon of the NBA. Specifically, I proposed that trading C.J. McCollum for Paul George would have been the right move for the Blazers’ long-term future.

In this piece, I’m suggesting the other half of Portland’s dynamic duo, Damian Lillard, be involved in a trade for Kyrie Irving. Considering the other players affected, it’s difficult to deny this deal would end up being a great long-term move.

Long story, short: Portland is currently listed as the third-highest payroll in the NBA. They are $2.9 million over the luxury tax threshold, which would result in roughly $4.4 million in luxury tax payments. Considering they’re unlikely to contend against the Golden State Warriors with their current roster, it makes no sense to take such a unnecessary financial hit.

So, that’s why trading away Allen Crabbe to the Brooklyn Nets looks to be the first domino to fall in what many expect to be a series of moves for the Blazers leading up to the regular season. Portland not only received immediate cap relief by dealing Crabbe for basically nothing in return, but they also generated a $12.9 million trade exception.

Trading away Lillard and Evan Turner’s contacts for a combined $43.3 million would easily get the Blazers under the luxury tax line with money to spare. In return, the Blazers would receive Irving, Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye for a combined $36.6 million, resulting in nearly $6.7 million worth in savings.

Shumpert currently has two years left on his deal (last year is a player option), while Frye is an expiring contract. This not only gives Portland financial flexibility right now, but it also helps with the impending contract extension of Jusuf Nurkic in 2018.

And on paper, the Blazers not only get a franchise player that is, on his best day, arguably on the same level as Dame, but Portland also nets a stretch big man to help space the floor, as well as the wing defender they need to bolster their perimeter defense.

Blazers are lucky to have Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard loves the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s made it painstakingly clear that he wants to remain with them. He wants to win a championship, but he refuses to leave Rip City to chase a ring.

With so many players switching teams this year, it’s refreshing to see a guy willing to put on for his city like Dame. He understands he has it good in Portland, and the fans completely embrace his style of play and competitive mentality.

That’s why despite an Irving-Lillard deal making a whole lot of sense, it’s difficult imagining a Portland Trail Blazers team without Damian Lillard.

Coming out of a small college like Weber State, Lillard was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year before going on to lead the Blazers to four straight playoff appearances. Were it not for how convoluted the Western Conference has become, Lillard arguably should have four All-Star appearances rather than two.

Give credit to the entire Blazers organization for making all the right moves during their 2012 overhaul, but drafting Lillard was the by far the best decision they made that year. Changing the culture was certainly a team effort, but Lillard gave the Blazers an edge they had been missing since Brandon Roy.

Simply put: it doesn’t make any sense for the Blazers to trade away a loyal player for a guy that’s proved willing to leave one of the best teams in the NBA (and one of the best players ever to play the game) because of some misplaced ego trip.

Next: 2017's biggest winners and losers of NBA free agency

Damian Lillard is Portland, and Portland is Damian Lillard.