Minnesota Timberwolves roundtable: Kyrie Irving talk

Dunking With Wolves staff participate in a Minnesota Timberwolves roundtable with Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale to discuss Kyrie Irving.

1. What’s a realistic trade package for Kyrie Irving?

Dan Favale via Bleacher Report (@danfavale): The Timberwolves are in such a tough spot. They have a great start to any Kyrie Irving trade, with Andrew Wiggins, but they don’t have the assets necessary to sweeten the pot for the Cavaliers or a third team. Cleveland won’t be interested in Minnesota’s 2020 first-round pick when it’s trying to maximize LeBron James’ window, and that draft choice alone probably isn’t enough on its own to coax another piece from a facilitating squad. The Wolves can dangle a more enticing package once Jeff Teague is eligible to be traded, but that’s not until December, and there’s little to no chance the Cavaliers go into next season with this situation hanging over their heads.

With all this in mind, this one deal in particular is probably the best Minnesota can hope to concoct:

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: PG Eric Bledsoe, SF/PF Jared Dudley SG Andrew Wiggins

Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: PG Kyrie Irving

Phoenix Suns Receive: C Cole Aldrich, PF Nemanja Bjelica, SG Iman Shumpert, unprotected 2020 first-round pick (via Minnesota), top-three protected 2022 first-round pick (via Minnesota).

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Even this feels like a stretch. The Phoenix Suns should absolutely consider picking up two loosely protected future firsts if they’re intent on rebuilding. Then again, they’re so far off in the distance, and Minnesota has to first convey its 2018 choice (lottery protected) to the Atlanta Hawks for all this to properly align.

Trading these two picks stings, but it’s the Timberwolves’ only real option. They aren’t getting Irving for only Wiggins and a first, and they need to make it worthwhile for the Suns to absorb nothing other than cap dreck. Things get a little simpler if the Cavaliers don’t insist on swapping out Iman Shumpert for Jared Dudley, but not by much. The Timberwolves still must come to grips with forking over two more firsts, while the Suns have to accept hedging against Minnesota’s future as adequate compensation for their best player.

Alas, this is what the Timberwolves are up against in any Irving deal. Future picks are their best asset outside Wiggins if they’re trying to broker a deal for December.

Max Neuhaus (MaX_nEuHaUs): There have been so many trade scenarios thrown out all across social media it could make your head spin. Three team deals, deals that include Andrew Wiggins, and deals that don’t involve Wiggins. Taking a look at what could actually happen though, there are a few trades that make sense and one that stands out in my mind. The Timberwolves send the former number one overall pick Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving. While this trade would make sense for both sides, Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert might want more considering he turned down a Paul George for Irving deal earlier in the offseason.

The Wolves deal of Wiggins and Dieng would make sense for both Minnesota and Cleveland. The Timberwolves get a superstar and a top five point guard. In return, the Cavaliers get two players that can help them both now and in the future. Plus, even if LeBron James does end up leaving after this year, him working with the former Kansas product can only help speed up his development. For reference, it would be like when Karl-Anthony Towns had Kevin Garnett to work with.

On the Wolves front, this deal makes sense. While the upside of Wiggins is sky-high, there is no promise that he fulfills it. He could just be a good scorer on a bad team. Meanwhile, the other former number one overall pick in the deal has shown his ability to be an elite player in the NBA. Today’s NBA has shown that, in order to win big, you need to have a roster that has superstars leading it. A big three of Towns, Jimmy Butler and Irving shows that Minnesota means business.  

Dieng is not a throwaway piece in this trade either. He averaged 10 points and more than a block a game last season. No matter if he starts or if he is one of the first guys off the bench, the 2013 NCAA national champion can produce.

This deal might take a pick or two from the Timberwolves to get the green light from Gilbert. As is, though, this would be a fair trade for both side and they both get something they want.

Ethan Lillard (@JPSports217): Kyrie Irving is one of the best point guards in the NBA. When he hit the basketball world with a seemingly out of nowhere trade request, every organization immediately looked at what they had to offer and thought, ‘Is this enough?’

With the way trades and transactions have taken place this off-season, it’s not hard to imagine the Cavs selling their star point guard, and future of the organization, to the highest bidder. So far, it appears the Knicks, Suns and Timberwolves are front runners to land the coveted guard. All three teams realize with this one trade, the face of their entire franchise can change. Looking

Looking over the possible return from teams in the Irving sweepstakes, it appears Minnesota has the leg up on the others. The Timberwolves young core has been a hot topic of discussion the past two seasons, with some already claiming the Wolves are the next Golden State Warriors.

One of the biggest assets in Minnesota is youth, but that’s exactly what they will have to trade in return for Irving. Yes, Irving also provides youth and has already proved himself, but to acquire him, more than one piece of the young nucleus will need to be shipped to Cleveland. It’s all but certain at this point, according to nearly every report, that the Timberwolves will have to part ways with Andrew Wiggins to make this trade happen. Wiggins for Irving straight up doesn’t work out due to the fact Wiggins is currently on his rookie deal, although Minnesota is looking into re-signing him when they make up their minds if they want to trade him or not.

Looking over ESPN’s Trade Machine, plugging in Wiggins, Cole Aldrich and Tyus Jones makes the deal for Irving work. Other than that, the Timberwolves currently don’t have many other options in terms of players to trade. Other than the three aforementioned names, the only other players that can currently be traded are Nemanja Bjelica, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Gorgui Dieng. Dieng and Bjelica could be moved, but KAT and Butler are untouchable pieces.

Another trade, if the first trade mentioned doesn’t do it for the Cavaliers, would be Wiggins and Dieng for Irving, with the possibility of Jones being thrown in if the Cavs so wish. There are other possibilities, but those seem to be the two that are most logical.