Kyrie Irving’s time on the Brooklyn Nets has not gone as expected, with the team being unable to win any championships with him and Kevin Durant thus far. The Nets themselves have been in the media cycle recently due to Kevin Durant’s trade request.
Due to Kevin Durant likely leaving the Brooklyn Nets, many people believe that Kyrie Irving will also get traded. However, Brian Lewis of The New York Post has recently revealed that Kyrie Irving wants to play for the Brooklyn Nets with or without Kevin Durant, also adding that Kyrie Irving never requested a trade.
A source close to the team confirmed that they’ve been in contact with Durant since his trade demand stunned the NBA. Another source close to Irving told The Post that the All-Star point guard not only never asked for a trade, but has had every intention of playing for Brooklyn — with or without Durant.
“How did we get into this situation about trade, when he opted in?” the source asked rhetorically. “Here is the situation. He opted in, which means he had and he has every intention of playing with the Brooklyn Nets. KD decides he wants out and now everybody is talking about trading Kyrie, right?
“Kyrie has not asked for a trade. Now, if the Nets don’t want him, that’s something totally different. Kyrie has not said he wants a trade. He opted in. [So where did] the trade conversations come from? Is it because, KD requested a trade and now everybody’s like let’s trade Ky? Kyrie opted in.”
When asked if Irving were also willing to play for the Nets, despite all the ongoing drama and the team having spoken to the Lakers about a deal, the source said he was, and that includes even if Durant is traded away in a blockbuster.
“Kyrie wants to play. … He wants to win a championship, and he wants to play,” the source told The Post, adding of the Durant situation, “I think when KD said he wanted a trade, he didn’t say I’m going to trade to where Kyrie goes.”
It remains to be seen if Kyrie Irving does in fact, get traded. He has most notably been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, with NBA insider Brian Windhorst suggesting that a deal between the Lakers and the Nets is only a matter of time.
If Kyrie Irving does end up playing for the Nets again, the team will likely want him to be a full-time player. The vaccine mandate in New York has been lifted, which means there’s no reason for him not to be a full-time player and miss time, barring injury. The team struggled due to his part-time status this season, and they probably do not want to have a disappointing year.
