2. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is the total package on offense. He finished the 2018-2019 season in the 86th percentile as the ball handler in pick and rolls, which means that either he or LeBron would work well with Anthony Davis.
Last season Irving shot 40% from deep on close to seven 3-point attempts per game, so when LeBron and Davis run pick and rolls together he can hang out beyond the arc and give opposing teams two awful choices on defense:
- Guard LeBron James and Anthony Davis with only two men in pick and rolls, which would allow LBJ and AD to attack the rim, where they both finish over 74% of their attempts.
- Send help, which would eventually lead to an open 3-point attempt from Irving.
When things break down on offense in half court situations Kyrie Irving can also get his own shot. He finished the season ranked 14th in the NBA in points per possession out of isolation plays (minimum 2 possessions per game).
Kyrie Irving has a reputation as a bad defender, but in actuality, he’s been decent on the less glamorous side of the ball since he arrived in Boston to play for the Celtics.
According to ESPN’s defensive real plus-minus, Irving rated out as the 20th best defensive point guard in the league last season.
During the 2018-2019 season, Kyrie Irving’s also held the player he was guarding to five percentage points lower than his season average.
Kyrie Irving’s never going to be a great defender, but he’s got quick hands and even quicker feet, and at 6’3″, he’s good enough on defense to at the very least bother the plethora of talented point guards who play in the western conference.
Kyrie Irving is a better choice than Kemba Walker because he’s a better defender and he’s a better 3-point shooter. He’s also a superior option to Jimmy Butler because his fit on offense is perfect next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.