Kyrie Irving ranked #7 on Bill Simmons' trade value list

Kyrie Irving is the 7th most valuable player in the NBA. Or at least that's what Bill Simmons thinks. In his annual trade value ranking, Simmons put Kyrie near the top of his list for the second year in a row. This is, of course, just an exercise because there's no way that the Cavaliers are trading Kyrie Irving for anybody. He's too young, too good, and too cheap. There are a few peculiar rankings on Simmons' list and I personally believe Kyrie is ranked a bit too low.

Here's part of what Simmons has to say about Kyrie.

"So we'll see about Irving, an electric offensive player who is already one of the league's best clutch scorers.15 He's only two years into a favorable rookie contract. And he's also just 21 years old, a baby for God's sake. There's a lot to love. Ironically, I think he's Kevin Johnson 2.0 as a basketball player - just as devastating off the dribble, just as unstoppable getting to the rim. Let's hope that comparison doesn't stretch to his durability, too."

He mainly focuses on the injury problems that Kyrie has had and I guess he really thinks they are more reason to concern for the future than I do. Regardless, I think he's slightly discounting the fact that Kyrie is so cheap for the next 2 years compared to the other guys at the top of this list. Similarly, I can't help but shake my head at the fact that Kyrie is ranked directly behind Carmelo Anthony. Is there a single GM in the NBA that would give up Kyrie Irving to get Carmelo Anthony long term? There can't possibly be.

Feel free to discuss Simmons' rankings here. No other Cavaliers made the top 50 and I can't really complain about that.