Kyrie Irving was surprisingly rumored to be traded away from Brooklyn after missing games during the 2020/21 season. The point guard cited personal reasons to skip matches during the regular season, which didn’t sit well with the NBA community, leading to rumors about his possible exit from the team.
After finishing his second season with the Brooklyn Nets, the player was reportedly on the move if the front office received the right offer. According to Matt Sullivan, the team’s ownership wasn’t happy with his actions during the regular season.
“Let me give you guys a little news, I’m not sure that’s been out there. I’ve heard that Nets ownership was quite upset with Kyrie’s ‘pause,’ especially that maskless party that turned his pseudo-paternity leave into more like a COVID suspension. And in the last week I’ve heard rumblings – whispers, really, because cracking the Nets is kind of like breaking into the Kremlin, that Brooklyn GM Sean Marks would maybe, possibly, apparently be willing to at least listen to a trade offer for Kyrie this offseason.”
More recently, Sullivan backpedaled on those comments, giving new details of the relationship between Kyrie and the franchise.
“In the last week I’ve heard rumblings — whispers, really, because cracking the Nets is kind of like breaking into the Kremlin, that Brooklyn GM Sean Marks would maybe, possibly, apparently be willing to at least listen to a trade offer for Kyrie this offseason.”
“Tried to clear up Kyrie trade stuff here: more like grumbling than rumblings from Nets Management. He controls them more than they do him—that’s a good thing. A solution, as Steve Nash’s team motto goes: Protect the Group. AKA let Ky be Ky. Not gonna deal him,” Sullivan said on ‘Celtics Lab,’ via The Sports Rush.
It was really surprising to know that the Nets could consider parting ways with Kyrie. They are expected to compete for the title next year, once they have James Harden and Irving fully healthy.
Ky showed he can mesh well with Kevin Durant and Harden this season. He carried the team when his teammates were sidelined, showing up whenever Steve Nash needed him. So, it’s fair to say he won’t be leaving the Barclays Center anytime soon.
