A week and a half after the NBA world learned Kyrie Irving had requested a trade out of Cleveland, it's quite possible the only thing keeping the four-time All-Star in a Cavs uniform is a 6-8 kid from Detroit with big hair and even bigger potential.

Suns rookie Josh Jackson is a sticking point in any trade for Irving, according to a report from Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Jackson, point guard Eric Bledsoe and a 2018 first-round pick would be the potential package heading back to the Cavs in exchange for Irving's services. A source told Cleveland.com "If that [Bledsoe, a first-round pick and Jackson] deal for Irving was there, it'd be done by now."

MORE: Cavs have gotten as many as 20 trade offers for Irving

But it's not there, and the inclusion of the rookie out of Kansas seems to be holding up the trade. Why don't the Suns want to pull the trigger? It comes down to risk vs. reward for Phoenix — and there's a whole lot of risk involved here.

The immediate impact would be adding Irving, one of the premier offensive talents in the NBA, to pair with rising star Devin Booker. It would undoubtedly be one of the most explosive backcourts in the league, but how would Irving's game impact Booker?

The former Kentucky star had a breakout season in 2016-17, increasing his scoring by nearly 10 points per game (13.8 to 22.1) and seeing a major spike in usage (23.0 to 28.6 usage percentage) from his rookie season. Irving would swallow up many of those possessions, especially considering he becomes a better scorer the more he dribbles. As noted in Sporting News' evaluation of Irving's fit with the Timberwolves, he's not known as a creator for others. This could stunt Booker's natural growth as a player.

And when you look at the Suns' roster, it's clear Irving would be tempted to take more shots than ever before. Bledsoe (21.1 ppg), T.J. Warren (14.4 ppg) and Brandon Knight (11.0 ppg) were the three players other than Booker to hit double-figures on a per-game basis. Bledsoe would be gone in that trade, and Knight is expected to miss the entire 2017-18 season with a torn ACL.

The role players aren't providing space for Irving to operate, either. The Suns shot 33.2 percent from 3-point range as team, the fourth-worst mark in the league, and 36.7 percent on spot-up opportunities, third-worst in the league. They also had the third-worst defensive rating last season, and Irving is certainly not helping on that end.

If he wants to be "The Man," this would be an opportunity for Irving, but he'd take a ton of L's in the process. To point out the obvious, Marquese Chriss is not LeBron James.

MORE: How would Irving help Knicks and Timberwolves?

The big picture is much more important for the Suns than any short-term concerns, though. Irving has two years left on his current contract (with a player option for 2019-20), he could end up as a very expensive rental. It has been reported Irving's preferred destinations include San Antonio, New York, Miami and Minnesota. Irving doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, so the Cavs can hand him to the highest bidder, but the other 26 teams not on that list must realize there's a strong chance Irving plays out the deal and then walks.

Imagine how the Suns would look if Irving bailed on that player option after two seasons. A star player is gone, a valuable first-round pick is gone and a potential franchise cornerstone is shining next to LeBron. That last possibility is the one that would really haunt Phoenix.

Jackson is the exact type of player NBA scouts salivate over. He's a long, athletic wing with a high capacity to grow on offense as well as versatility and switchability on defense. He showed promise in Summer League, averaging 17.4 points and 9.2 rebounds in five games. While there are questions about his shot mechanics (42.5 percent from the field in those Summer League games), his skill, motor and impact in his one year at Kansas can't be ignored, particularly on the defensive end. He even stacks up well against 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green coming out of college.

Player PER STL % BLK % Def. Win Shares Def. Box Plus/Minus Josh Jackson (KU, 2016-17) 24.1 3.1 3.5 2.2 5.7 Draymond Green (MSU, 2011-12) 26.1 2.7 3.3 3.6 7.2

That's not to say Jackson will become a shutdown defender overnight or nearly as good as Green, as they are different in terms of position and play. But Jackson displayed flashes of brilliance playing only one year with new teammates, and the fact that he compares somewhat favorably to a senior deeply immersed in Tom Izzo's system shows the 20-year-old is just scratching the surface.

The Suns finished dead last in the West last season. They are attempting to build a foundation for the future in order to eventually compete in a loaded conference. Trading for Irving isn't going to fix everything that's wrong in Phoenix, but it could send them down a dangerous path for years to come depending on what the team is willing to give up. The Cavs might be willing to bring down the asking price once the season approaches and that locker room becomes a little more tense. For now, the Suns shouldn't be in a rush to make a move.

That's why Irving and Jackson haven't gone anywhere — yet.