The Cleveland Cavaliers turned to the Boston Celtics to unload Kyrie Irving, acquiring a solid package that has value in the present and future for the franchise. 

Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and an unprotected Brooklyn Nets first-round draft pick leaves Cleveland in position to compete now, while still giving them flexibility in the future. Brooklyn has been one of the worst teams over the past several seasons, making their pick a high-potential reward for the Cavaliers.

Boston wasn't the only team the Cavaliers tried to engage in trade negotiations with, though. Cleveland reportedly put in a call to the Golden State Warriors, lobbing a potential star swap that would have left the NBA stunned. 

Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman received a strong return in his first major test as the leading voice in Cleveland's front office, but he had his eye on another target on the defending champions: Klay Thompson.

Altman contacted the Warriors to discuss a Thompson-Irving swap, but Golden State was uninterested in the opening conversation, reports Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated. Thompson, a two-time NBA champion and prolific three-point shooter, would have been a fascinating addition to Cleveland. 

The Warriors likely did the right thing in shutting down the notion of trading Thompson. He's been an integral piece in the rise of their dynasty, pairing beautifully with Stephen Curry to become one of the greatest shooting backcourts of all-time. There's an argument to be made there's been no better pairing from outside in the history of the league. 

Klay is an obvious target for Cleveland, with the potential to completely open the Cavaliers' floor spacing on offense. He's also an underrated defender. The intrigue from the Cavaliers' side is fairly straightforward. 

Irving's fit on the Warriors is harder to envision. He's another ball-dominant player, which wouldn't mesh well with a team featuring Curry and Kevin Durant. What makes Klay such a seamless fit is how complementary he is to the roster. 

Kyrie is one of the NBA's top point guards, but he's not the spot-up wing that Golden State's offense demands, nor is he the defender needed to make up for that deficit. It's easy to see why there was no traction on this deal.

And, let's be honest: There's absolutely no reason for Golden State to rock the boat. The franchise is locked in to compete with a core that's proven itself for the foreseeable future.