NBA Rumors: Despite whispers, Kyrie Irving ‘likely’ to return to Brooklyn Nets
NBA Rumors: The Kyrie Irving-Brooklyn Nets saga might be coming to a peaceful resolution. The superstar point guard is likely returning to Brooklyn, declining to test the free-agent market.
According to Brian Lewis from the New York Post, all indications are that Irving will remain with the team for next season. Whether it’s through simply accepting the $36 million player option for next season, opting out and signing a multi-year deal, or opting in and signing an extension, that’s up in the air.
Early on in the Brooklyn Nets‘ offseason, reports were loud on the disconnect between Irving and the front office, specifically after Sean Marks’ comments at his exit press conference. He emphasized the need for players to be selfless and available consistently. Kyrie was not exactly available last season due to the city’s vaccine mandate, as he ended up only playing 29 regular-season games.
Despite this, it seems as though the 30-year-old still has a positive relationship with the Nets’ ownership group, including Joe Tsai, and his superstar teammate Kevin Durant, who has done nothing but stand up for his friend during the entire process.
The Nets’ season ended in utter disappointment being swept by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics when they were initially favored in the series. However, the duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving can contend with anyone. The introduction of Ben Simmons to the Nets’ lineup along with some depth pieces on the perimeter could improve Brooklyn drastically.
For Irving’s contract, don’t be surprised if it is mostly incentive-based. If Marks and the rest of Brooklyn had a guarantee that Irving would play at least 65 games each season, they would undoubtedly give him anything he wanted. When taking into account his off-the-court issues, missing long stretches of games in each of the past two seasons, giving Kyrie a fully guaranteed supermax may come back to bite them.
Therefore, allowing Irving to earn his pay by fulfilling a certain number of games played would make the most sense. The Nets need to know who they’re going to have on the court each and every night, as their lack of consistent lineups ended up leading to their downfall in the first round.
Nobody can blame the Nets for wanting to keep Irving – as a talent, he’s one of the best the league’s ever seen. Brooklyn’s front office, along with Kevin Durant himself, has confidence that this relationship can still work.
dark. Next. Deandre Ayton has played his last game with the Suns?
It doesn’t make sense for Kyrie to go anywhere else.