The Kyrie Irving saga keeps getting hotter by the hour now, as new details emerge about the Brooklyn Nets’ point guard’s plans regarding his future. After a report claimed that Kyrie and the Nets had an impasse while negotiating a new deal for him, everybody is keeping tabs on this situation, including rival teams.
After that, many rumors surfaced, placing Irving on a variety of teams that will surely try to lure him away from Barclays Center. While some say the Los Angeles Lakers are the biggest threat to land Kyrie, other squads like the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks could make a run for the guard.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Kyrie himself has identified the six teams he’d like to join if he were to leave the Nets this summer. This is, of course, in the case that he can’t come to terms with the team, but as things stand right now, it’s more likely to see Kyrie leaving the Nets than joining Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons next season.
ESPN Sources: If Kyrie Irving can’t reach an agreement to stay with Brooklyn, he has a list of teams he’d like them to consider on sign-and-trades, including Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, Mavs and 76ers. None of those teams have cap space to sign him without Nets’ help.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2022
If Kyrie Irving can’t reach an agreement to stay with Brooklyn, he has a list of teams he’d like them to consider on sign-and-trades, including Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, Mavs and 76ers. None of those teams have cap space to sign him without Nets’ help.
Irving has left every team he’s played for on the worst terms, and it seems like this time won’t be the exception. The Nets still can save this relationship, but Kevin Durant considering his options for the future doesn’t make any good for the Brooklynites. Kyrie could join another contender, leaving his friend alone, making him force a trade to find a better situation.
This project started in 2019 and these players are yet to play in the Eastern Conference Finals. They can take a lot in return for both Irving and Durant, but this isn’t what the Nets expected to do entering the offseason.
Irving could reunite with LeBron James in Los Angeles or create a Big 3 with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. He could be the face of the Knicks at Madison Square Garden or become the piece the Miami Heat needs to win the title. A duo with Luka Doncic would be awesome to watch or another Big 3 with Joel Embiid and James Harden in Philly.
There are plenty of options for Irving right now, but time will tell how this situation plays out for everybody involved.
