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NBA Trades: 3 teams that should have interest in Kyrie Irving

By Josh Cornelissen

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 07: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 07, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 07: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 07, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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NBA Trades, Kyrie Irving
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 08: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 08, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina, NBA Trades: 3 teams that should have interest in Kyrie Irving. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

NBA Trades: 3 teams that should have interest in Kyrie Irving: LA Clippers

One of the three teams that The Athletic reported were interested in Irving, the LA Clippers actually make a lot of sense for multiple reasons. They have the ability to trade for Irving because of multiple players on their roster with midtier salaries, players who are actually good and could stick in Brooklyn as rotation pieces.

Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Luke Kennard, Robert Covington, and Reggie Jackson all make between $11 million and $17 million, and Ivica Zubac has a team option for $7.5 million. If Irving opts into his $36.9 million player option, the Clippers can send two or three of those contracts to the Nets in exchange for Irving. Would the Nets at least be interested in working Covington, Kennard, and Zubac into their rotation?

Irving gives the Clippers an ultra-talented true point guard, and the perimeter shot creation of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Irving all together is staggering. Irving also is liable to stay connected better in a situation where he isn’t the top guy; knowing he is third in the pecking order may chafe, but it won’t give him the freedom to meander quite so much.

Being on a true title contender may help Irving as well, and it makes the Clippers at least somewhat sane for considering adding him to the mix. Irving raises their ceiling, and if he buys in for at least this season the Clippers can make a realistic run at a championship.

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