The Nets are faced with a balancing act as they attempt to re-sign or extend Kyrie Irving, Adrian Wojnarowski said today during a TV appearance on SportsCenter, as well as in an Insider-only story for ESPN.com.
As Wojnarowski explains, the Nets want to remain disciplined in their contract discussions with Irving, preferring to negotiate a shorter-term deal rather than a long-term contract, in large part due to the star guard’s availability issues in recent years. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported something similar earlier in the week.
However, the team also doesn’t want to run the risk of “alienating” star forward Kevin Durant, who is close with Irving and may become disenchanted with his situation in Brooklyn if his good friend departs in free agency. Wojnarowski says there are teams rooting for Irving to leave the Nets because they feel it could open the door for them to pursue Durant.
Although Durant hasn’t shown any signs of frustration with his situation, Wojnarowski hears from sources that chatter from rival agents and players about KD’s eagerness to talk to free agents hasn’t existed so far this summer like it has in past offseasons. Sources also suggest to ESPN that the drama surrounding Irving has made it more difficult for the Nets to court and retain role players.
Brian Lewis of The New York Post confirms that the length of a new Irving deal appears to be more of a sticking point than the salary, writing that the two sides are trying to find a “happy medium.”
According to Wojnarowski, getting a deal done is “the preference for everyone,” including the Nets, Irving, and Durant, and Lewis says that most people around the league still believe a return to Brooklyn is the most likely outcome for Kyrie. It’s just a matter of the Nets and the seven-time All-Star finding common ground in their contract talks.
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No more?
Compare The attitude Wiggins and these guys
#1 pick Wiggins is humble and injury free
These guys stay at home and get paid
Way to confirm your own post. Maybe there’s another Sillivan on this site?
Durant and Irving were made for each other.
It happens when 2 of the greatest talents ever come together, right?
I liked Uncle Drew Kyrie better than Bizzaro Kyrie
Yeah. Who knew though that “Hold my nuts” was also a personal philosophy?
Wasting time because in the end Irving resigns with nets.
I think he will, there is no other competitive team with cap space to make a run at him. The only way for him to leave is to go to a bad/rebuild situation or find a team he wants and force a sign and trade but this is far complicated to get it done.
I bet this will be finished with a 3 years fully guaranteed, maybe with a 4th year team option.
Funny how the Nets put the LA thing to rest by saying give us AD for Irving.
Poor Nets fans.
The tale of the Nets. One superstar stupid and one soft. You decide which is which