Sixers not expected to pursue a Kyrie Irving trade

Kyrie Irving is on the line, but the Sixers aren’t biting.

In the wake of Irving’s recent request to be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers, a whole bunch of teams across the league's landscape are interested in acquiring the crafty 25-year old guard, but the 7-6 aren’t expected to make a serious run at the four-time All-Star.

In the recently drafted Markelle Fultz, the Sixers have a young guard that was hand-picked to play alongside Ben Simmons with a skillset that projects as similar to Irving’s. The cost to land Irving would be extremely steep, and the vibe around the organization is that the team wants to wait to see exactly what they have in a Fultz-Simmons-Embiid-led squad before further tinkering is done.

According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, Cleveland is seeking a "bundle of assets" in exchange for Irving, including a top-tier young talent.

From Lowe:

"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...They are shooting for the mother lode."

Considering this reported asking price, any offer that the Sixers would make would likely have to start with either Fultz or Simmons, Dario Saric, and future picks.

In addition to young talent to build with, the Cavaliers are also looking for veterans that could complement LeBron James in the present and contribute to a title run next season, and Philadelphia can’t help too much in that regard. Thus, the Sixers will likely be observers in any potential Irving deal.

Irving is intriguing, but so is what the Sixers have assembled, and the time is coming to see just what that is.