NBA Rumors: Russell Westbrook to Replace Kyrie Irving on Cavs Lineup?

By Carlo Monzon
Russell Westbrook
Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) and center Marreese Speights (5) during the first half of game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88.  Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

New rumors suggest that the Cleveland Cavaliers may be looking to trade Kyrie Irving for Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder. These rumors are connected to the notion that the Cavs are trying to build a "super-team" to match the Golden State Warriors.

Aside from LeBron James, Irving also played a pivotal role during the NBA Finals. After all, he was the one who scored the winning shot for the Cavs during Game 7. Of course, from Cleveland's perspective, keeping the core team that won the championship intact is ideal as the next NBA season draws nearer.

However, according to various sources, it seems the Cavs might break up this team in order to create a stronger one in preparation for next season. This is where Westbrook comes in. For some time now, it has been rumored that the Thunder are looking to get a trade deal out of Westbrook.

Ever since Kevin Durant announced that he will be joining the Warriors, Westbrook has reportedly expressed his interest in signing with another team. This is the main reason why it would be good for OKC to trade him and get something in return than completely lose him in free agency.

Negotiation a trade with the Cavs can also be good for the Thunder. For one, if all goes well, they'll be able to get Irving. For Cleveland, on the other hand, the team will get a stronger player in return.

Based on stats alone, Westbrook is a more effective player than Irving. In the last NBA season, he averaged 23.5 points with 6 rebounds and 10.4 assists. Irving, on the other hand, only got an average of 19.6 points per game with 3 rebounds and 4.7 assists, according to The Blow.

If the Cavs really want to build a stronger lineup that has a great chance of defending their title next season, then engaging in a trade with OKC for Westbrook would be the way to go. This deal will also be a win-win situation for the Thunder since they will be getting a veteran star with championship experience in return.

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