The NBA season has just taken a wild turn for the Brooklyn Nets, who were sitting comfortably at 4th in the East heading into this weekend.
Now, who knows what the future holds in store for Brooklyn?
According to The Athletic’s Shans Charania, Kyrie Irving has requested a trade from the organization after informing the team he will leave once his contract expires this summer.
Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency in July.
Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency in July.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023
It should be noted that Kyrie was open and willing to sign an extension with the Nets earlier this season and even had his agent publicly campaign for the Nets to re-sign him.
Evidently, the Nets were unwilling to make a long-term commitment to Irving, which could be the strongest factor behind his planned departure from the team.
Either way, it’s a moment that has shocked the entire NBA world.
Nets fans seeing this Kyrie Irving trade request pic.twitter.com/ha4iFVGs4x
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 3, 2023
Lebron hearing Kyrie Irving wants to be traded. pic.twitter.com/h4pEguvPne
— Bo Tilly 보석 🇰🇷✌🏽 (@BoTilly) February 3, 2023
Kyrie Irving destroying every NBA team he has ever been a part of https://t.co/UbubDWsJW1
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 3, 2023
So… now that Kyrie Irving wants out from the Nets does Kevin Durant demand another trade? Or are KD and Kyrie just breaking up?
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) February 3, 2023
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) February 3, 2023
https://twitter.com/C3SpamAcc/status/1621586205006512128https://twitter.com/whoiskb_/status/1621586099012337666
Damn… Kyrie been in talks with the other team behind closed doors 👀👀
This WILL workout for him ‼️‼️ https://t.co/WWOtRrl1Ig
— HIMOTHY (@Waynes3World) February 3, 2023
Nets being forced to rebuild midseason when they’re in 4th because Kyrie decided to act up is hilarious
— Smaug🌹 (@Smaug55) February 3, 2023
As one of the best shooters, scorers, and ball handlers in the NBA, Kyrie is the type of player who can move the championship needle for teams across the league. For the Lakers, in particular, he is the kind of big-name star they’ve been waiting for, and he could be the player they’d be willing to trade their picks for.
Of course, there’s also the question of Kevin Durant and what happens to him when his best friend and co-star get traded out of town.
What Happens To Kevin Durant After Kyrie Irving Bombshell?
Kevin Durant is still under contract, so the Nets could easily elect to trade Kyrie and keep trying to build around Durant. In this scenario, they would obviously want win-now players in return for Irving.
As for where Durant could land in a trade, one has to think his preferred destination list from the summer is still the same.
Phoenix and Miami are among two of the teams that Kevin Durant has on his wish list, sources tell ESPN, but the Nets plan to move Durant where they can get the best possible deal. With four years on his contract, there’s no shortage of teams willing to unload assets for Durant.
Of course, this latest news completely changes the dynamic of this NBA trade season. And even if the Nets don’t make a move (which is unlikely at this point), the house is bound to come tumbling down in the summer when Irving can leave on his own accord as an NBA free agent.
The Nets now have to decide what to do with Irving. If they really want to keep him this season, signing him to an extension he wants may be the only way to put out the fire.
If not, trading everyone and rebuilding from scratch may also be in the cards.
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