It appeared early in free agency as if some momentum was building toward a trade that sent Kyrie Irving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, but there has been no indication recently that an agreement between the Lakers and Nets is close.
One report last week said that the vibe coming out of Brooklyn was that the Nets are comfortable entering training camp this fall with Irving and Kevin Durant still on their roster. Another report, citing a source close to Irving, suggested that Kyrie hadn’t asked to be traded since opting in for 2022/23 and has “every intention” of playing in Brooklyn next season.
Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up on Monday, Adrian Wojnarowski didn’t rule out the possibility of Irving being traded to Los Angeles, but the language he used – referring to the talks as “not completely dead” – didn’t inspire a ton of confidence.
Additionally, as NetsDaily relays, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said on the most recent episode of his podcast that Irving seems to be increasingly accepting of the fact that he’s “overwhelmingly likely to be back in Brooklyn.”
The Lakers aren’t the only team that can make a trade for Irving, but they’re the only one that has been seriously and repeatedly linked to him this offseason. Teams like the Mavericks, Sixers, and Heat have been floated as potential suitors, but those scenarios have been shot down pretty quickly by local beat reporters. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype described Irving’s trade market last week as “Lakers or bust.”
If Irving doesn’t want to be in Brooklyn – and multiple reports this month have suggested he’s interested in joining the Lakers – his best strategy may be to report to camp without making any waves, rebuild his value after a lost 2021/22 season, and either hope for a trade at the 2023 deadline or simply sign elsewhere when he becomes a free agent next summer.
However, it’s unclear how patient Irving is willing to be. Reporting from several outlets in June indicated that he was seriously exploring other destinations and only opted into his contract with the Nets after it became clear that none of the teams on his wish list were prepared to make him a lucrative, long-term offer in free agency. If the team is able to find a suitable trade for his good friend Durant, Kyrie seems even less likely to happily stick around Brooklyn for another season.
It’s also worth noting that recent reports about the Nets’ willingness to open the season with Durant and Irving on their roster could simply be posturing, with Brooklyn trying to regain leverage in trade discussions. Even if a Kyrie trade isn’t imminent today, we still have over two months until training camps begin — that gives the Nets plenty of time to try to find an offer they like.
With all that in mind, we want to know what you think. Which team will Irving open the 2022/23 season with? Will he remain in Brooklyn or end up elsewhere? And if he’s still a Net this fall, how much longer will that last?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Are you talking about where will he be spiritually, or are you thinking more metaphysically?
Lmao
My prediction
Nets get Lakers 2029 First and Spurs players
Lakers get Irving and a Nets player
Spurs get Westbrook and Lakers 2027 unprotected First
Lakers future is to sign free agent superstar
Differ
Warriors rely on future draft picks
Lakers will steal superstars from other teams
Who cares at this point. Durant too
I’d be shocked if either KD or Kyrie is moved simply because I don’t see anyone offering what the Nets want for either.
Kyrie to lakers being inevitable will play out like Paul George to lakers in 2017 !
Lakers won’t give up the goods to get kyrie like they should ! So kyrie will play out his contract with nets or any team that takes a chance on him and kyrie Will lose interest in the lakers the following season when lebron possibly also loses interest in lakers
The way things are going he going to be a net
On the covid list
On the ineligible unable to play list due to vaccination status
Yeah what will lakers even be this coming season. Will LeBron be healthy and even AD. I do not think that Kyrie or KD will be moved but perhaps a surprise will happen. Lakers keep saying expect something. Will they get Kyrie, EG from Rockets. At this point I could care less really with KD or Kyrie
There would be nothing more Kevin Durant than him ending up back with the Nets next year
So I chose Nets for KI as they will give it a 40 game try before the next trade deadline and then proceed accordingly
Watch neither gets traded and they have a good record the first 40 games and say we would rather stay on the Nets.
100% in the realm of possibilities
As long as Marks takes the lead I have no problems/no more demands (kyrie ext ) ect shall be met for these 2 until they start paying back the over 1/4 billion the Nets put out for this show
If marks really wanted to trade him he would have but he put up a high price to tell them time to prove your worth.
Can we do a gofundme to pay him off so he can retire from the NBA and leave us all alone?
Sick of listening to his lies and nonsense he so dangerously views as factual or even partial fact.
My guess is Nets prove themselves out of Kyrie and Lakers end up pivoting towards Pat Beverly and role players as apart of the Donovan Mitchell deal. Which leaves Kyrie with very little options.
However I think he actually does end up in Miami.
The package, Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic and a first round pick for Kyrie Irving and Royce ONeale.
Kyrie and Jimmy are good mates having played together at Team USA and going head to head in a lot of 1v1’s. The covid rules aren’t as strict in Miami and Kyrie would be able to play a lot more games. Off the court Kyrie does work hard and would fit into the Heat culture. He’s a freakish skilled and talented player who is one of the hardest to guard in the league and that’ll be respected in Miami. On the court he’s exactly what they need, another scoring option outside of Butler and someone who can step up in the clutch. Not to mention Royce ONeale is the perfect PJ Tucker replacement at the 4 spot. Can defend well, can shoot the three ball and that’ll allow Herro and others to keep their bench roles.
Kyrie Oladipo Butler ONeale Bam
That’s a very solid starting 5 in the east which has gotten better again
My other favourite little idea
Kyrie and ONeale for KP, Kuzma and Kispert.
Brooklyn plan around Simmons. He plays the 1, Kuzma and KD the forwards and KP the 5. Very offensive but also very tall and long. Loads of shooters, good secondary ball handlers, reasonably young but still competitive. Built with the idea KD stays but in a style more suited around Ben Simmons. Would cause a lot of mismatches on offence, imagine Simmons-KP pick and roll/pick and pop with point guards or SFs switching onto KP or centre’s switching onto Ben, would result in loads of points. Plus the oppositions best defender has to stay with KD. Defensively Ben stops a lot and KP down low makes it very hard at the rim, KD can hold his own, Joe Harris works hard too.
Would make for exciting viewing.
Wizards go all in, Kyrie Beal Barton Hachimura and Gafford (I guess) and off the bench Wright/Morris Davis Avidja ONeale and Yannick/Carey Jr? Very light on good centre’s but great backcourt and decent depth. Would recommend getting a centre in FA like Whiteside, Cousins or Tristan Thompson. But aside from that you’d actually be a decent team
Man, call it a hunch based on nothing but I’ve been feeling Pat could slip in on Kyrie as well for a good while with the covet Lowry/Duncan are moved off of (prolly multi team deal here)
They’d actually be a strong 3rd on the list here on a longshot and the one I’d want to bet per Vegas odds if doing so
Pat’s never played into perception or what others thought- A good Irving (looking to make future bread) along with a great great great leader on court (Jimmy) w/ offcourt leadership (Spo/Pat) and a good young 2 way Big (Bam) could be a pretty good recipe- You know the role players gonna role after that; A good Kyrie makes that Mia team deadly
He will be on the Nets roster but won’t play.
It will be interesting to watch the Nets deal with 2 players with mental problems.
God help Kevin Durant & Steve Nash. It will take a lot of hand holding to get either to perform up to their contracts. It would be great for Kyrie to get vaccinated ( like 70% of the US has already done ).
Maybe it could show he’s doing it for the team but I’m not optimistic!
KD is not a leader of men so count him out. He has shown that he looks out for numero uno and has grandiose dreams of leading a team to an NBA championship. He dumps and runs when that dream fades in order to keep the illusion that He will lead the next team to the promised land. I threw up in my mouth just thinking about Durant’s “leadership.”
Italy
This is what happens when u overpay in compensation to get a star basketball player who really doesn’t show a strong showing up of loyalty for sticking with a team when things don’t go right.. and nets did it with 3 players at same time.. huge mistake.. they now after trading assets of players and draft picks are in tough position.. have unhappy players or trade them for lesser than they originally gave up.. Durant would get as much or more back but coming off 2 of 3 injury riddled seasons and is now 34 making 200 million in next 4 years… this after nets paid him for first year of never stepping on the court after signing injured.. very very little loyalty to Nets for doing so.. all these teams that mortgage future firsts always pay in the long term