NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving, Nets at ‘impasse’; Lakers, Knicks ready to pounce

NBA Rumors: According to a recent report, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets are at an impasse; Lakers and Knicks could emerge as landing spots.

When the Brooklyn Nets were eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics, it seemed like Kyrie Irving was a foregone conclusion to re-sign and that the team had a semi-bright future with Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant next season.

However, some of that sentiment is beginning to change. Especially considering that it’s now being reported that there is a serious “impasse” between the Nets and Kyrie as free agency is just a couple of weeks away.

Per the report, it’s to the point where suitors are beginning to arise for Kyrie. With the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and LA Clippers being named as possible landing spots if Kyrie did elect to leave Brooklyn.

Of course, for each of those landing spots, the Nets would have to plan ball and help facilitate a sign-and-trade.

Despite the reported “impasse,” it remains to be seen whether or not the Nets are at that point yet in their Kyrie negotiations.

Nevertheless, this is not good news from any angle. The Nets can’t really afford to lose Kyrie and certainly not for nothing this offseason. Without Kyrie, even with James Harden, the Nets were pretty average this past season.

Losing Kyrie and heading into the season with a dynamic two of Ben Simmons and Durant doesn’t exactly hit the same way. This is a big offseason for the Nets. They have Durant locked up for the foreseeable future but now need to figure out what their team is going to look like moving forward around him.

At least for now, there is serious doubt that will include Kyrie. That could change but often in the NBA, where there’s smoke there’s usually fire. Question is, how big of a fire is taking place behind the scenes in Brooklyn?