One of the teams that sources around Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving have suggested would be tenable for the point guard is the Miami Heat. The Heat have an interesting mix of mid-career starters and young talent that the Cavs could find attractive. Any trade will likely center around the inclusion of both slashing point guard Goran Dragic and defensive-minded small forward Justise Winslow, and we'll assume the Cavs will demand them both. Winslow, in particular, is attractive for his physical defense with near-elite athleticism and size, at 6-foot-7, and a muscular 225 pounds. However, there are some wrinkles which would help the Heat and Cavs, especially when involving a third team. Let's play with the trade machine, and break out three of many possible trades the Miami Heat could execute to land Irving. 1. Irving, Iman Shumpert for Dragic, Winslow, Wayne Ellington, protected first-round pick The Cavs aren't looking only for short-term relief at the point guard position with Dragic, mainly because LeBron James will continue to be the team's true point guard. However, Dragic's overall offensive ability would be ideal alongside James. The Cavs will also be looking for youth, which Winslow and a first-round pick (even if top-five or top-10 protected from the lottery) would represent. Cleveland would like to shed Shumpert's remaining $21.3 million over two years. Getting shooting guard Ellington essentially flips Shumpert for an older, but a cheaper player with only one year at $6.2 million and a capable three-point shooter at a 37.8 percent clip. There are a few combinations of this trade (involving the principles) that could occur, including the Cavs sending backup point Kay Felder over to the Heat. For example, Felder with Irving, for Dragic, Winslow, and guard Rodney McGruder or possibly combo guard Josh Richardson. (Continue on next page!) [xyz-ihs snippet="Responsive-Ad"] [xyz-ihs snippet="Responsive-Image-Only"] 2. Cavs get Dragic, Ellington, Winslow, McGruder (or protected first-rounder); Heat get Irving, Felder (or Cavs first-rounder), Jared Dudley; Suns get Shumpert We're quickly going into three-team trade territory. The wrinkle here is that the Heat may not want to be stuck with Shumpert, a defense-first player that can't shoot. Irving would need more shooters around him to spread the floor. The Suns have more than enough shooters and are severely lacking defensively. Bringing long-ball specialist Dudley to the Heat and putting Shumpert on the Suns alleviate each team's issues without spending more money. (Continue on next page!) [xyz-ihs snippet="Responsive-Ad"] [xyz-ihs snippet="Responsive-Image-Only"] 3. Cavs get Dragic, Winslow, McGruder, Dorian Finney-Smith; Heat get Irving, Devin Harris; Mavericks get Shumpert This trade works because the Heat may also want a true veteran backup point guard for Irving. Taking one from Dallas would be doable considering the Mavericks' current glut at the position, now that dynamic rookie Dennis Smith Jr. is likely to get all the minutes he can, with Yogi Ferrell and J.J. Barea cleaning up. Ferrell, who has one year left on his deal, will likely be retained by Dallas. Finney-Smith gives the Cavs a bouncy athlete to throw at wings or can be a "small ball" power forward, to temporarily spell James from those duties. Dallas may be rebuilding, but they could use Shumpert's perimeter defense off the bench. [xyz-ihs snippet="Responsive-ImagenText"]
