The Kyrie Irving trade sweepstakes are technically over.
But not really.
According to ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ interest in extracting more out of the Boston Celtics as a result of Isaiah Thomas’ physical has “signaled” to the rest of the league that the bidding isn’t necessarily closed. Though he notes the Cavaliers are unlikely do any better than the current package of Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick, he does say the Milwaukee Bucks are still open to building a package around Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton:
The Milwaukee Bucks lurk on the fringes of the Irving bidding with an offer centered around Malcolm Brogdon, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, and Khris Middleton, sources say. The Bucks have not yet put a first-round pick on the table, sources say, but the bet here is that they would to get the deal done — or if Irving showed any interest in staying in Milwaukee long-term.
Anyone who has read or listened to me over the past month or so knows I’m not a fan of this Brodgon-and-Middleton-plus-picks package for the Bucks. Irving helps them in the playoffs, as that additional proven shot creator, but Middleton can do some of that too, albeit to a significantly lesser degree, and Jabari Parker, when healthy, is eventually supposed to fill that void. Plus, the defensive tradeoff incumbent of flipping two of your most versatile defenders for a demonstrative negative on that end doesn’t do much for Milwaukee’s long-term or immediate outlook.
All of which may be a non-issue. The Celtics’ offer, even with Thomas’ injury, is clearly better with the Nets pick, and we know the Cavaliers are trying to straddle two timelines.
Should this deal fall through, or Cleveland get a long-term commitment from James, the Bucks’ deal plays quite nicely—particularly if they’re willing to gamble a first-round pick or two, plus maybe D.J. Wilson.
