After all the drama and tension surrounding Kyrie Irving’s future with the Brooklyn Nets, we might finally be getting a definitive answer on what’s next. Many felt that the Nets might cut ties with their star guard after all the issues he’s been involved in during his time with them with the most recent one being his anti-vaccination stance.
There were also reports that the Nets were unwilling to give Irving a long-term extension after all that had transpired over the last couple of years but it seems like there won’t be a breakup just yet. As per a report from the New York Post, all signs are pointing towards Kyrie returning to the Nets.
But Irving is still not only close friends with Kevin Durant, but maintains a good relationship with team owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai. The Post reported last month that a return to Brooklyn appeared a fait accompli, and sentiment around the league is Irving will re-sign.
“I agree most [likely] he comes back,” a league-source well-versed in the salary cap told The Post. “As for a contract, I’d probably try to get him back at an annual rate at what he is currently making. They could give him a contract below the max with unlikely incentives that allows him to reach the max. Unlikely incentives are capped at 15 percent of a player’s salary in a given year. So they can make his salary 15 percent less than the max, then give incentives to allow him to get the full max.
“He would have to opt out and negotiate a new contract with those new incentives.”
This certainly is a major development and the Kevin Durant angle is one that many have spoken about previously as well. KD and Kyrie came as a package deal to the Nets in 2019 and if they let Kyrie go, then Durant might have wanted out as well. He already hadn’t spoken with the team after their exit in the first round and alienating Durant is the last thing the Nets would want to do.
They are desperate to win that elusive championship and while getting Irving back should be a boost to them on the court, you have to wonder what other controversy might potentially come with it next season. It’s been a couple of trouble-filled seasons for the Nets and they’d be hoping for a change in their fortunes in 2022-23.
