This guy is honestly the most baffling basketball player to have existed. Despite putting up all-star level numbers on a contending Nets team, Kyrie Irving has demanded a trade out of Brooklyn a week before the trade deadline.
This is why you can NEVER, EVER rely on Kyrie Irving as a franchise basketball player.
Like I said, the Nets are in their best position all season long as they currently sit in 4th place in the East on an impressive 31-20 record, despite Kevin Durant having missed the last eleven games, and they are only six games back of the 1st place Celtics. Moreover, Irving has been the guy since his return from suspension early this season as he has posted an outstanding 27.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 5.5 APG stat line that has cemented his place in this week’s all-star game.
This is the best situation the Nets have been in since the 2021 playoffs, and Kyrie wants out now? He’s insane!
Sure, the Nets were just humiliated at the hands of the Celtics 139-96, but that’s mainly because both Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant were out with injuries. I don’t think the Nets would have beaten the Celtics in Boston with those guys in the lineup, yet the game would have been a hell of a lot closer than a 43-point blowout.
So, there’s no reason why Irving should want out due to the Nets not being title contenders in the East as their early-season record suggested.
Therefore, the only thing that I can think of pushing Irving to this ridiculous move is a breakdown in contract negotiations. Namely, the Nets didn’t want to offer Irving a provision-less max deal.
And how can you blame them?
Aside from this recent run of games, Kyrie Irving has barely been a tenth of the player he was in Boston and Cleveland, which has led to the Nets playoff failures and off-field antics taking ahold of the team. If Irving could have just put aside his stupid antics in any one of these last three season, then the Nets would have been NBA champions at this point and Steve Nash would still have his job as the head coach of the team (though, getting Nash fired for Jacque Vaughn might have been the best thing Irving has done for the franchise).
Thus, offering Irving a max deal without any requirements of gametime, on-field production, or team success would be akin to sticking a billion dollars in a bottle and throwing it out to sea, hoping that it might come back in a week so you can pay off the debts on your soon-to-be foreclosed house.
Can you see why I just don’t like Kyrie Irving the basketball player (I can’t speak for what he’s like as a regular person, but I’m sure he’s pleasant enough)? He cares for nothing but himself and will step on anyone and anything to do what is best for his own interests.
Anyway, if the Nets are willing to play ball with Irving and his trade demands, the obvious takers are the Los Angeles Lakers and a reunion with LeBron James, the Phoenix Suns (which is a longshot), and the Dallas Mavericks and a deadly pairing with Luka Doncic.
Personally, I find the Mavericks to be the most interesting proposition as not only is Luka Doncic coming into his prime at only 23 years old, but the Mavericks have a much better long-term setup than the Lakers. Most of their roster is made up of prime aged players (27-32) that support Luka Doncic, who is one of the MVP candidates again.
Having a duel headed threat of Irving and Doncic from the backcourt, along with an okay supporting frontcourt and bench, would instantly make this Mavs team the favorites to win the West.
Plus, since Irving desperately desires a max deal, he should much rather want to play out the next 5-7 years of his career with Luka in Dallas than 2-3 years in LA with an injury-prone Anthony Davis and aging LeBron James.
Though, if I had to bet where Irving will end up, my money is on seeing him in a purple and gold Lakers uniform come the end of the trade deadline.
As for the Nets, the season is pretty much a wash at this point. Kyrie Irving has just burnt all of his bridges with the team, Kevin Durant’s injuries are getting the better of him, and Ben Simmons is no longer the all-star he used to be in Philadelphia.
A lengthy rebuild is necessary after this season is over to wash away the stain that is the KD-Kyrie regime from this franchise.
Images Source: Featured Image:
