Kyrie Irving reportedly wants out of Cleveland and has given the Cavs a list of four teams, New York, Miami, Minnesota and San Antonio, as his preferred destinations.
Denver didn’t make Irving’s list, but former Nugget Mike Miller, who played with Irving in Cleveland during the 2014-15 season, says Irving would be interested in coming to the Nuggets.
“I’ve already asked that question,” Miller said to Altitude Radio’s Scott Hastings and Jason Kosmicki about if Irving would entertain playing for the Denver Nuggets. “I don’t know if I can give you the answer but I’ve already asked that question. I think he will. I really do. Like anything else, when people look at cities, Denver’s an unbelievable city we all know that. And with what the organization has built there, he would be crazy not to and he’s definitely, definitely interested in it and I told him by putting this thing out there he has no choice.”
Cleveland reportedly wants a “blue-chip prospect” along with veterans that can keep them playing at a championship level and draft picks if they were to part with the four-time all star. Denver has all of those assets to offer if they do engage in trade talks with the Cavs.
In terms of fit, Miller, who knows Irving’s game well, thinks it’s a good one.
“I think it’s perfect. If you can roll out Kyrie, Paul Millsap, and Joker[Nikola Jokic], and obviously, the other guys they have. They’ll have to trade someone but you’ve got Gary Harris, Wilson Chandler‘s in there,” Miller said. “You’re a top-four team in the West.”
The 17-year veteran also had some good perspective on Irving, his situation in Cleveland, and his relationship with LeBron James:
A lot of it’s untrue. Obviously, Kyrie has made it clear that he’d like to get moved and would like to do some things but I think they’re for different reasons than people think. And it’s not about a relationship between Lebron and Kyrie going sour. I think they had an unbelievable run, three years, and won a championship together. There’s some things that are true and some things that are not.
He’s a smart kid, understands, works hard. It’s another path. I think he’s looking at a couple different things. This is not coming from him, it’s a guess, just like anyone else, but I do know him pretty well, is that he’s looking, does this Cleveland Cavalier team that’s assembled right now, can they beat Golden State? And another thing he’s looking at, is LeBron coming back next year?…..I think he’s looking at those two things right now….He’s trying to get ahead of the curve.
