Kyrie Irving, star player of the Brooklyn Nets, has requested a trade from the franchise after failing to agree on a long-term contract extension, according to ESPN sources.
Irving, who will become a free agent this summer, wants to leave before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
Personally, I’d love to see Kyrie in the purple and gold.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 3, 2023
The Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Phoenix Suns are reportedly considering a deal with Brooklyn. Irving has not specified his preferred teams, but it’s clear he wants to be traded to a team that will extend his contract in the off-season.
Irving, who earns $36.9 million in the final year of his contract, is seeking a four-year, $198.5 million extension, according to sources. If traded, he can sign a two-year, $78.6 million extension with his new team until June 30.
However, no teams are willing to make this investment in Irving, especially after he was suspended for eight games for failing to condemn an antisemitic film shared on his social media.
Reporting on Kyrie Irving’s trade request with the Nets and two of the reasons why: pic.twitter.com/dRZcm03YP2
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023
Although the Lakers and Mavericks have previously shown interest in trading for Irving, they are now limiting their offer of significant assets due to concerns, according to sources. They plan to hold discussions with the Nets in the near future.
The Lakers and Mavericks are both eager to win now, but currently lack the necessary talent to compete for the championship this season. This makes them more likely to consider trading for Kyrie Irving.
However, the bigger concern for the Brooklyn Nets is how All-Star player Kevin Durant will respond to Irving’s trade request and whether this will cause him to reconsider his future with the team before Thursday’s deadline. Many teams are more interested in this situation than in acquiring Irving.
Among rival teams, there's far more interest in inquiring on Kevin Durant's reaction to Kyrie Irving's trade request and how that may impact KD's future with the Nets.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 3, 2023
Earlier this season, Irving had attempted to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal, but there was limited interest from other teams. He eventually decided to opt into the final year of his contract. Meanwhile, Durant had requested a trade during the off-season but later withdrew the request in September.
The Nets have a 31-20 record but have lost seven out of 11 games since Durant was sidelined with an MCL sprain. He is expected to return shortly before or after the All-Star break in mid-February.
Kendrick Perkins went off on Kyrie Irving 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/NLLvzasmAT
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) February 3, 2023
Irving, 30, is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game this season.
Kyrie Irving is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on March 23, 1992, in Melbourne, Australia, but grew up in West Orange, New Jersey.
Irving played college basketball at Duke University for one year before being selected as the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He spent six seasons with the Cavaliers, during which time he won an NBA championship in 2016 and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2012.
In 2017, Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics, where he played for two seasons before signing with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. He is known for his exceptional ball-handling skills, scoring ability, and clutch performances in important games.
Off the court, Irving has been involved in various philanthropic and social justice efforts. He has donated large sums of money to various organizations, such as the WNBA Players Association. He has also been outspoken about social justice issues, including the Black Lives Matter movement.
Irving has been named to the NBA All-Star team seven times and has won an Olympic gold medal with the United States men’s basketball team in 2016. He is widely considered one of the most talented and exciting players in the NBA today.