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NBA Rumors: What Kyrie Irving’s meeting with Phoenix Suns is really about

By Michael Saenz

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 06: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets react during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on January 06, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 06: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets react during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on January 06, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving possibly meeting with the Phoenix Suns is a whole lot of nothing. 

With NBA Free Agency on the horizon, there are many interesting storylines heading into the start of the offseason. And one of the biggest centers around Kyrie Irving. He’s an unrestricted free agent and while there’s an expectation that he’s going to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks, there are recent reports that he’s prepared and ready to take meetings with outside teams.

Specifically, one potentially league-altering report indicates that he intends to take a meeting with the Phoenix Suns.

In a vacuum, it would be a move that would completely shake the NBA. The Suns are already loaded as is and are pushing the boundaries of the NBA salary cap. With Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton already on the roster, it would seem almost impossible to envision them also adding Kyrie.

Kyrie Irving to the Phoenix Suns makes absolutely no sense

However, unless Kyrie is going to sign with a veteran’s minimum, there’s really no pathway to him landing on the Suns. Phoenix is not eligible to participate in a sign-and-trade deal to their high salary.

When you take all of that into consideration, it’s pretty clear what’s at stake here. Kyrie is clearly trying to create some momentum heading into the free agency period.

This meeting, if it ever comes to fruition, isn’t about anything more than leverage. It’s already been reported that Kyrie’s market is almost non-existent other than the interest from the Mavs. If that is indeed true, it wouldn’t be all that surprising for Kyrie and his camp to try and create some leverage by getting KD (his buddy) to get the Suns involved, even if it is an extremely unlikely possibility.

I don’t think Kyrie is trying to get other teams interested. If I had to guess, I’d say that he’s trying to get the full max from the Mavs, including years. And without a strong market out there for him, that may not be an offer that Dallas is able to make right now.

Perhaps his came has gotten wind of that and they’re trying to do some damage control in an attempt to change that heading into the start of free agency. As laughable as it may sound, it’s actually not a terrible tactic.

Next. NBA Rumors: Ranking and predicting where the top 35 NBA free agents will sign. dark

This is Kyrie doing Kyrie things. There’s nothing to see here. The real question is, will this tactic work?

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