Kyrie Irving Trade to Timberwolves unlikely before Dec. 14

The Minnesota Timberwolves are among six teams that have offers on the table for a Kyrie Irving trade ahead of the 2017-18 season. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers could be forced to delay a potential Irving to Minnesota move until December.

The reason? Jeff Teague can't be moved before Dec. 14 due to the trade restriction on newly signed contracts. Teague signed a three-year, US$57 million (AU$71 million) deal with the Timberwolves this offseason.

The Timberwolves are reportedly offering a package centred on fourth-year forward Andrew Wiggins. Besides Wiggins, Minnesota can offer the likes of Gorgui Dieng, Cole Aldrich and Tyus Jones. However, Chris Mannix of The Vertical reported Thursday that the Cavs would prefer a package headlined by Wiggins and Teague, who could slip into the starting five as Irving's replacement.

Kyrie Irving Trade: Could Andrew Wiggins return to Cleveland?

Incidentally, Wiggins was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavs in 2014 before being shipped to Minnesota as part of the Kevin Love trade. With three years under the belt, Wiggins could potentially take his game to a new level under the tutelage of LeBron James.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Timberwolves and five other teams have engaged the Cleveland Cavaliers over the past few days. San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Miami Heat are the other teams in question. Irving's list of preferred teams includes the Spurs, Knicks and Heat, besides the Timberwolves.

The report added that the Cavs would wait for a package that resembles the Carmelo Anthony trade to New York Knicks in 2011. "The Cavaliers want a package that resembles the 2011 Denver Nuggets-New York Knicks deal for Carmelo Anthony -- young players, win-now veterans and draft picks, league sources said. For new general manager Koby Altman, this is a textbook way to open trade discussions. But for now, most Irving suitors are using the Minnesota Timberwolves-Chicago Bulls trade model for Jimmy Butler, a scaled-down model of Melo's rich return of assets," Wojnarowski wrote on Thursday.

Timberwolves stars Karl Anthony-Towns and Jimmy Butler have already begun the process of recruiting Irving, according to beat writers in Minnesota. Butler and Irving formed a close friendship while representing Team USA during last year's Rio Olympics. Kyrie Irving, drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavs in 2011, averaged 25.2 points, and 5.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds in his sixth season in the NBA.