Mandatory Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Kyrie Irving requested a trade. Again.
I have about 95% of a trade deadline preview article written, breaking down what I think each contender will be looking for at the deadline.
And then…yeah.
So that’ll come Monday! But for now, the basketball world received earth-shattering news ahead of the deadline.
Kyrie wants a trade. And he REALLY wants an extension. The Brooklyn Nets are in disarray. In other news, the same story as the entirety of the Durant/Irving era of Brooklyn Nets basketball.
Looking back to the summer, Kevin Durant AND Kyrie requested a trade. Kyrie was allegedly trying to force his way to Los Angeles, to play with former teammate and future leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron James.
Kevin Durant also requested a trade, but it was unknown exactly WHY he was unhappy. But, both of them showed up to training camp and the Nets have been pretty damn good this year.
Was KD trying to force his way out in the summer or was he trying to apply pressure to the Nets to extend his friend?
According to Shams, the Nets HAVE offered Kyrie an extension, but it came with stipulations around the guaranteed money that apparently, Irving did not take well.
The Nets recently offered Irving an extension with guarantee stipulations, according to league sources, an offer which was declined. Sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations who have been granted anonymity so that they could speak freely say that the extension offer was not well received and that there have been principle differences that have emerged between the Nets and Irving.
Shams Charania – The Athletic
It seems like this is going to happen! The Nets will want contributors in return and they’re not going to let him torpedo the season so I think a deal will get done.
Obviously… the first team that has come to everybody’s mind is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Russell Westbrook, one of those coveted first-round picks and some other sweeteners for Irving, makes a lot of sense.
LeBron has been publicly supportive of Kyrie all. Year. Long. Kyrie spoke about how he would love to play with LeBron now that he has “matured” in his life.
Also… if Kyrie wants an extension… aren’t the Lakers REALLY the only team desperate enough to give up assets AND give him a max extension?
Who else in the league would possibly fit into both categories? Because you HAVE to have both.
The Nets need motivation to make the deal because they have an aging Kevin Durant on their roster. They need to maximize the present, even though it’s clear Kyrie will not be a part of that.
But if you’re a team looking at Kyrie as a rental option, how do you know he doesn’t torpedo your team? How do you know he even shows up?
And what team is desperate enough besides the Lakers to get Kyrie into the building? Dallas, maybe? Washington? The other L.A. team, the Clippers?
The Suns, Mavericks and Lakers emerging as suitors are not surprising.
This betting list also looks about right. Miami need a star but would Kyrie really fit in with Heat Culture? Not so sure about that. The Knicks? That’s… interesting. Him and Brunson together would be a nightmare defensively and I can’t imagine the Knicks trading him.
Would the Suns be trading Chris Paul and Jae Crowder? Would they be trading DeAndre Ayton? THAT is an interesting landing spot.
The Clippers are INTERESTING. A win-now move to the max, they have SO much depth and a lineup of Kyrie-PG-Kawhi and anyone else would be lethal in a wide-open western conference.
The Mavs need a star next to Luka Doncic but the fit could be better. Defensively again it would be a mess, but Luka with another scorer of that caliber is kind of terrifying.
And then… the Lakers. Russ, some young guys and those firsts for Kyrie and whoever else (Joe Harris?) to match salaries. Kyrie and LeBron back together, but also seeing Kyrie and Anthony Davis in actions together… SHEESH. If they can stay healthy, and this is TRULY what will motivate Kyrie and give him what he wants.. they’re a contender.
But that’s the problem.
Kyrie NEVER knows what he wants.
Or rather it changes day to day, hour to hour. And he’s now going to be known as the guy who asked to be traded away from LeBron James, Jayson Tatum AND Kevin Durant.
That’s an impressive list.
Wherever Kyrie ends up, somehow here we are, in the year 2023, and the Nets are dominating the news cycle.
Hooray.
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