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Kyrie Irving could be out of Cleveland before his contract expires. Getty

Trade rumors surrounding New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony have suddenly taken a backseat. On Friday afternoon, ESPN dropped a bombshell report that Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving is seeking a trade.

LeBron James, who will become a free agent at the end of the 2017-18 season, was reportedly "blindsided" and "disappointed" by Irving's interest to leave the Cavs, a team he joined as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that James won't intervene in a possible Irving trade.

Sources told NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski that the San Antonio Spurs are the preferred destination for Irving, with the New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves also in the mix.

"Kyrie and I had a meeting with Cavs leadership where we discussed many different scenarios in reference to Kyrie and his future with the team," Irving's agent Jeff Wechsler told Wojnarowski. "The basis of those discussions and what went on in those discussions are between the Cavs and us. We are respectfully going to keep those private."

Irving, 25, signed a five-year deal worth $90 million in July 2014 and is due $60 million over the next three seasons. The four-time All-Star is coming off arguably his best season, averaging 25.2 points per game on 47.3 percent shooting.

Should the Spurs make a push for Irving, it's possible that LaMarcus Aldridge would be part of a possible deal. In June, the Spurs reportedly considered dealing Aldridge for a draft pick. The 32-year-old is due $21.4 million next season and has a $22.3 million player option in 2018-19.

Spurs point guard Tony Parker will become a free agent in 2018. The 35-year-old is owed $15.5 million next season.

The Knicks may be an interesting trade partner. New York has been looking to deal Anthony for quite some time and the 33-year-old is good friends with James. Before the February trade deadline, there were rumors that the Knicks and Cavs were discussing a deal involving power forward Kevin Love. In June, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said there was a blockbuster deal on the table that would have brought Anthony and then-Indiana Pacers forward Paul George to Cleveland, with Love perhaps ending up with the Denver Nuggets or Phoenix Suns.

Star big man Kristaps Porzingis was reportedly on the trade block before Phil Jackson stepped down as Knicks team president.

NBA Basketball