Kyrie Irving Trade: Cavs seeking 'blue chip young player' in exchange for star point guard

The Cleveland Cavaliers would settle for nothing less than a "blue chip young player" as the centrepiece of a potential Kyrie Irving trade, according to a new report. With Irving recently requesting a trade out of Cleveland, the Cavs front office led by new general manager Koby Altman, has begun fielding offers.

According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, the Cavs would prefer a younger player instead of an established All-Star in the wake of LeBron James' inevitable exit next summer. While Irving has listed the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs as preferred destinations, the Cavs front office is determined to make a trade that would benefit the team's long-term future.

"Cleveland is seeking a bundle of assets, but the highest priority right now is snagging a blue-chip young player, according to sources across the league. That is not necessarily a signal they think James is leaving. They would like to get everything: one or two veterans who can help LeBron dethrone Golden State, that blue-chipper, and picks.

"They want to prepare for a worst-case scenario of LeBron leaving without shoving him out the door by acquiring players he deems unready. Even so, the blue-chipper appears to be their guidepost, sources say," Lowe wrote in a report published Monday.

Kyrie Irving trade: Cavs won't rush into bad trade

The report added that the Cavs won't settle for a "disappointing return" the way Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers did for the All-Star trio of DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, and Paul George.

"The Cavs realize Cousins, Butler, and George fetched what was considered disappointing return. They know potential targets who signed new deals this summer cannot be traded until December or January. They appear unfazed. Irving is 25, about two and a half years younger than Butler. He has more time left on his deal than George, and carries none of Boogie's baggage."

After Timberwolves stars Karl Anthony-Towns and Jimmy Butler recently reached out to Irving, Yahoo Sports' Jordan Schultz fielded a potential three team trade involving the Cavaliers, Knicks and Suns that would send Carmelo Anthony and Eric Bledsoe to Cleveland, Irving to New York and the duo of Kevin Love and rookie guard Frank Ntilikina to Phoenix.

Going by Lowe's report, neither Bledsoe nor Anthony qualify as "blue chip young players". With two full years left on Irving's contract, the Cavs are under no obligation to move the All-Star point guard in the near future.

Kyrie Irving averaged 25.2 points, 5.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds in his sixth season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving wants to reportedly step out of LeBron James' shadow and embrace his own team.