Brooklyn Nets: Everything is falling apart for the Nets

What was supposed to be a clean sweep in 2019 free agency appears to be slowly falling apart for the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving.

After only playing 103 regular-season games for the Brooklyn Nets in the last three seasons, general manager Sean Marks and the Nets organization have been reluctant to give Kyrie Irving a long-term contract extension.

With Kyrie’s player option left on his current deal, he has a decision to either pick the option up or decline the option and become a free agent. As of right now, there are less than a handful of teams that have the salary-cap space in order to sign Kyrie to a max deal.

Among the possibilities this offseason, there are whispers that Kyrie could be eyeing a reunion with his old buddy, LeBron James. However, because of the Lakers’ salary cap situation, Kyrie would have to take a significant pay cut or there would have to be some blockbuster moves on LA’s part.

Of course, a trade could work. But that could prove to be tricky. Though, it’s something the team has given Kyrie permission to explore.

Why won’t the Brooklyn Nets give Kyrie Irving a max extension? 

From all indications, general manager Sean Marks may feel Kyrie has done more harm than good since being in Brooklyn and that has nothing to do with how great of a talent Kyrie is. But it is about how Kyrie has carried himself as a Net over the last three years.

Kyrie’s talent and skill are something that is undeniable but he’s kinda been Mr. Unreliable for the Nets. During his entire time with the Nets, he’s appeared in 103 regular-season games and just a total of 13 playoff games in the last three seasons.

There have been times Kyrie criticized the team’s roster saying things like:

"“It’s glaring the Nets need more pieces to reach the next level.”"

Then, there was a time Kyrie spoke out to the media about the Nets coaching situation, saying:

"“He doesn’t see the Nets having a head coach.”"

Then, there was a time when Kyrie took a break from the team with no communication whatsoever and returned games later announcing he needed time away. Kyrie has averaged 27.1 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. The problem isn’t if he will perform, it is about Kyrie’s commitment and availability to the Nets. If the Nets give Kyrie a max deal, can he commit and be available to play more games for Brooklyn, when needed?

Let’s be honest; Kyrie is a maximum player regardless of the injuries. The Nets under Sean Marks have been an organization that typically gives contracts based on performance, availability, and commitment.

For the Nets, Kyrie has not made it easy for them to commit to him long-term. Although we know Kyrie wants to be a Net (or at least play with Kevin Durant) and we know Kyrie’s worth it’s difficult for the Nets to willingly pay someone, when he has not been available for them as much as they need him in the past seasons.

When all is said and done, the Nets might actually be the losers if Kyrie walks. The reason why is because they already made trades and moves structured around Kyrie and Kevin Durant. The last three years have been built based on these two core superstar players.

If Kyrie leaves, what will be next for the Nets? Who will be the next piece the Nets would go on to pair with Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant? They don’t have draft picks and if Kyrie decides to leave, what will they get back in return, and will those pieces be enough for the Nets to compete for a championship?

Then, there are even more questions surrounding the future of KD if Kyrie leaves. There are too many questions that would need to be answered if the Nets don’t find a way to make it work.

If they don’t find a way to make it work, for Nets fans there might be a silent worry about history repeating itself going back to 2013 when the Nets traded most of their future picks for a win-now opportunity. They traded for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry for a boatload of future picks that blossomed into Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for the Boston Celtics.

Not saying the Nets would completely go through a rebuild right now, but there is a chance that Nets fans would end up disappointed if this whole thing blows up.