The Lakers and Mavericks are among the teams expected to talk to the Nets before next Thursday’s trade deadline about a possible deal involving Kyrie Irving, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein (Twitter link).
In addition to the Lakers and Mavs, the Suns have emerged as a potential suitor for Irving, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times tweets that there has also been some buzz in league circles about the Heat being a team to watch.
Irving has reportedly requested a trade out of Brooklyn.
There are a handful of reasons why the list of obvious matches for Irving isn’t lengthy. His history of mercurial behavior and inconsistent availability will scare many teams away, as will the fact that he’s an unrestricted free agent at season’s end — some suitors will be reluctant to give up much for a player who might be a rental, while others may not welcome the idea of having to negotiate a new contract with the 30-year-old. Additionally, Irving’s $36.9MM cap hit is sizable and wouldn’t be easy for certain clubs to match.
Still, Irving remains an elite talent on the court, having averaged 27.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 5.1 RPG on a sparkling .486/.374/.883 shooting line in 40 games (37.0 MPG) for Brooklyn this season, so it’s safe to assume Sean Marks and the Nets’ front office will get some inquiries.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link), Irving hasn’t given the Nets a list of preferred landing spots, but his interest in the Lakers has carried over from the 2022 offseason.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, have had interest in Irving in the past, though they’ve been reluctant to give up a substantial haul of assets for the All-Star guard, tweets Wojnarowski. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon observes (via Twitter) that Mavs president of basketball operations Nico Harrison (a former Nike executive) and head coach Jason Kidd have long-standing relationships with Irving, and Dallas badly wants a co-star for Luka Doncic.
As for the Suns, they’re viewed as one of the only teams capable of making a deal with the Nets that could leave both teams as contenders, tweets Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
When Irving explored the possibility of changing teams last summer, the Lakers, Mavericks, and Heat were said to be on his wish list, along with the Clippers, Knicks, and Sixers. New York and Philadelphia don’t look like logical fits for Kyrie at this point, but L.A.’s other team could be worth keeping an eye on.
There haven’t been any reports linking Irving to the Clippers so far, but they’ve reportedly expressed interest in some other point guards and have been “proactive” in gauging John Wall‘s trade market, according to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times.
Doncic and Irving would be a good backcourt duo. Both can play off-ball, and Irving is far more consistent than Dinwiddie scoring the ball which Doncic needs help with desperately. Mavs just need to dump a bunch of salary, and sign him in the off-season. Nobody wants what Dallas has, and Brooklyn is too good when Durant is healthy to break-up the Nets this season.
Dinwiddie, Josh Green, Bertans, and two firsts to the Nets for Kyrie? Seems like it would work.
Nets laugh and hang up the phone
Irving’s to toxic, maybe 1 late FRP amd salary filler
Mavs have nothing to trade in-season unfortunately. They are gonna have to fire sale their roster in the offseason to land Irving. The team-up is great, the finances & value exchange are almost impossible. Any trade Dallas could offer makes Brooklyn not a title contender this season, and even though Brooklyn seems alright without extending, or signing Irving, it remains to be seen whether, or not they would scourn their fans in such a blatantly, stupid, way.
Because they don’t want a toxic POS on their team. I think they’d scorn most people in Brooklyn by keeping him. It’s one of the most Jewish areas of America, re-signing an anti-semite would be the stupid move.
Good riddance Cancer!!!
Until he gets mad that Luka is the show and he’s a sidekick, derails the train and leaves the Mavs in worse shape than they’re in. It’s literally what he’s done everywhere he’s been.
Irving trade is “”crazy”
The asking price will be scary high
The offer will be scary low.
Did you forget what the Nets wanted for Durant trade?
Asking price example:
1 young all star
1 salary filler
4 Firsts
3 Swaps
Why do Nets have to trade Kyrie?? They already knew coming into the season, he will be a FA.
Well, because now they know they will lose him for nothing AND it’s pretty likely if they don’t trade him he will sit out.
If he sits out, nobody signs him next year. There has to be a limit to what teams will tolerate.
Unfortunately the limit is not him sitting out with his former team
Irving might still want a sign and trade rather than being limited to the cap room of some interested teams.
That way Brooklyn might still get value for him in the off-season.
Because it’s irresponsible of the GM to let a talent like Kyrie go for nothing. Might as well blow it up at that point.
Irving’s request is a negotiation tactic
Max contract is max contract, there is no need to put stipulations on guarantees.
According to Shams Charania
Irving was having talks on a contract extension, but those talks stalled when the Nets wanted to put stipulations on guarantees in the deal
Yeah, and it’s an awful one. If he wasn’t a cancer around the league it would be a sensible play but for a guy who badly needs to repair his image around the league, asking for a trade now just digs his hole even deeper at a time when playing things out probably gets him a bigger contract in the offseason.
Lol maybe yall would be less salty if you thought of Kyrie as the American hero that he is… link to m.youtube.com
^Salty.
LOL American hero.
OK, whatever gets you through the day.
Looks like someone forgot about his twitter posts
There are very few pro athletes in US history that can be viewed as an “American hero”. Kyrie ain’t one of them. He’s good at basketball and bad at pretty much everything else.
Nut case! Send him to the Lakers!
AD for Irving and Cam Thomas would be a good deal for both teams. Payroll is about right and it still gives the Lakers a chance to sign a player when Westbrook leaves next year.
I would love to hear KD’s thoughts on this Diva situation.
KD has been nothing but supportive of Kyrie. They’re best friends and he understands the business side of things. KD also requested prior to the season. So if you support KD and not Kyrie, maybe the Diva is you.
“Business side of things” my ayse, the dude is promoting neo-n@zi vitriol
Lol, you can still support KD, he’s not an anti-Semite like Kyrie.
The only deal I would do I were the Mavs: KI for Hardaway, Bertans, McGee, and a 1st. KI never steps foot in Dallas, and starts his off season Feb 10th. So basically I would be trading a mid/late 1st rounder immediate cap relief this year.
Seems like a fair offer
Why would the Nets be interested in that package? It seems to be only beneficial to the Mavs. Nets would be trading away an impactful player that can help you win a championship for three bad contracts and a 1st?
Never said the Nets would. He is a heckuva player, but is also a nutcase, and a short term rental. Simply put, I would not trade for the KI, but I would deal the first for the contract swap.
The risk is losing him for nothing. Or having a unhappy player in the organization for the rest of the year. We have seen how that has played out before with KI. The Nets don’t want any of that.
Ah, ok. Personally, I would rather lose him for nothing than take on THJ, Bertans, and McGee contracts.
Obviously but it would be a good deal for Mavs.
Still can’t believe KD chose to go from Steph and the warriors to being a long for the ride with this guy. No clue how you value him in a trade either given his baggage and his pending UFA status
No.. No thank. Keep irwing away from Dallas..unless we’re talking chaff like Bertans, Mcgee and second rounders.. Pass,ain’t worth it
You wish you could get a player of Kai’s caliber. The Mavs are notorious for star players avoiding going there in FA and Kyrie is a star that would greatly elevate their team. Dude is a champion and has ice in his vains on the biggest stage. At the discounted price Kai is going for the Mavs should absolutely pursue him.
Yes, he has greatly elevated the Celtics, the Nets, the list is extensive.
Kyrie is a champion because he played with Lebron.
Nobody should sign this cancer.
Are there really this many Kyrie fanbois out there? Did you not watch the NBA the past 5 seasons? How about when Kyrie the Great tanked the Celtics/Milwaukee playoff series and then the Bucks went out and mocked him in the press conference?
Somehow the fanbois seem to forget.
Nobody should trade for the NBA cancer. Let him rot and then go to Taiwan.
Lol. He didn’t tank the Celtics, Celtics were out matched and poorly coached. And without Kyrie, Bron wouldn’t have won that finals. Kyrie had a huge 40 point game and arguably hit one of the clutches shots in finals history.
It’s not about being a fanboy but taking off hater glasses and seeing the All-Star basketball player that he is.
These absolute morons think people have “hater glasses” on and are defending a guy who promoted neo-n@zi propaganda.
We see just fine when someone is a problem like Kyrie. Take your bigot glasses off so you can too.
As much as the overly effusive tone of your comment makes me want to barf, you’re not wrong. With the Mavs sort of being stuck roster-wise and cap-wise, it could make sense to take a swing on Kyrie as long as the price would be reasonable. Their alternatives don’t look great, especially if they aren’t able to extent or resign Wood. Yes, it’s a clear risk but even the hope of being a real contender in the short-term might be worth a consideration.
That said, I still wouldn’t do it personally. Kyrie and Luka is too poor of a defensive combination to survive in the playoffs, especially if Wood would remain a starter. If I’m the Mavs, I take the long road and don’t risk digging the hole any deeper.
Dallas won’t have the assets enticing enough for brk in the end anyways
He’s a putz
Thought Kyrie and KD luv playing for Vaughn, lol. Kyrie simply doesnt have confidence he can get a big contract in the offseason… he wants it now. Big baby! No contract for you!
He’s absolutely getting paid in the offseason. Dude is an All-Star and deservedly so. Big time player. Only thing is that he’ll get a huge contract, but it most likely won’t come from a contending team.
What has Kyrie done in the last 4 yrs???
This season he’s an All-Star and this is a “what have you done for me lately” league. Two seasons ago he pulled off a 50/40/90 season while scoring 27 points. Only 9 players in history have done that and only 3 players did it scoring more than him. Played limited games last season but he balled when he played. You clearly don’t like Kyrie but he’s a hell of a player.
Stats are meaningless if you keep letting down your teammates and fans. Nets have won ONE postseason series in the last 4 yrs.
Kyrie is definitely an amazing basketball player, no doubt about that.
If Kyrie didn’t have his offcourt issues I agree. But this is the most toxic player in the NBA, any team who signs him needs an exit plan. I imagine whatever deal he signs will be loaded with team options as an exit plan.
Who is paying him a max contract? Seriously who has the money and actually wants him?
Spurs have a ton of cap space and Pop is a huge fan of Kyrie, Orlando has a ton of cap space and after another lottery destined season could target Kyrie. They have a need at PG and a star to bring in more fans. Hornets and OKC can also target him. OKC could be a problem with a duo of Shai and Kai.
Clueless and in denial. No one can trust Kyrie again and be held a hostage and ruin the franchise.
No way any rebuilding team signs Kyrie to a Max contract. That would be nuts.
Adam Silver and the suits were sitting around trying to figure out how to drum up some media hype into the Trade Deadline so he probably DM’d Kyrie and was like “it’s go time”
Lol I believe it. This season has been so dry.
Anthony Davis and Russel Westbrook for Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, and Seth Curry. One mans trash is another mans treasure. Seth is really good and I think the Lakers would want him for this deal to be completed
Might as well trade KD at the TD or end of the season. Knicks should just throw picks until they get KD. Rose Toppin Grimes Reddish Quickley Fournier + whatever picks it takes.
Brunson, RJ, KD, Randle, Robinson that honestly is a Top-3 team in the East with ease.
Mark from Cuba may be stupid…
But he’s too cheap to do this…
3team trade proposal..
LAL-CHI= AD & Beverly go back home to CHItown
CHI-BK= Levine
BK-CHI= Curry & Watanabe
BK-LAL= KI, Ben, 2ndRDpicks
LAL-BK= Westbrook, WalkerIV
CHI-LAL= DeRozan
Nets fans, no one is giving up players plus 2 first round picks, for a guy who might walk away in 5 months. Lakers fans, no one is giving you, top NBA talent for the Troy Tulowitzki of the NBA and Westbrook.
Kyrie would be smart to just stop the chatter and play tough through this season and try to win in the playoffs instead he’s driving his market down. At least Westbrook has been smart this year and played his role and keeps playing.
LAL: Irving
BKN: Poeltl, Richardson, McDermott
SAS: Brick + LAL 27 & 29 FRPs + LAL 28 swap
I like your trade, it works.
I also like Jazz trade idea but …
Ainge is “snake” LOL
Send at least one of those picks to Brooklyn. Irving is worth more than McBucketts, Richardson, and Pöltl.
If a trade happens with the Lakers, I also don’t think Brooklyn should take on Westbrook. This would generate a huge luxury tax.
Better to include a third team, where the Spurs have the advantage of being below the salary floor and having lots of cap room.
However, I dont think Lakers should give up two first round picks for Irving.
I would rather wait and see what Spurs can get for Poeltl, Richardson and McDermott with teams X,Y and Z and then try to send some contracts to Brooklyn of those teams.
A trade with 5 or 6 teams is way more complicated, but I feel it’s the only eay where Spurs get a good enough return for those 3 players and Lakers don’t have to give up too much assets for an expiring contract that risks damaging the Lakers brand.
Kyrie is an awesome basketball player and a total idiot! Teams should steer far away from him.
Only reason Suns are mentioned are to try to pump up the price for the Lakers. No way the new (Jewish) owner wants that drama.
Brunson, Randle and Rose for Irving, Harris and O’Neale
There is no way I would want Irving on my team. He’s a head case and cancer. He’s got the skills but that’s about it.
His coming to LA is inevitable.
Kyrie makes a ton of sense.
Obviously he’s played with and win with LeBron in the past. He can handle the ball and score at will which works great with the ageing Bron and often injured AD.
However they don’t really have any assets the nets would want. Maybe Russ’s huge expiring deal but that doesn’t actually help them win games and push for the playoffs. Lonnie Walkers been balling and is a shout but for a player as talented as Kyrie it’s going to take a lot more.
Yes his value is hurt by him requesting a trade and being an expiring contract that’ll leave in FA but at the same time he’s a huge star and a win now player Brooklyn won’t just give him away for the fun of it.
Maybe Russ, Lonnie Walker and a first for Kyrie and Joe Harris.
It’ll come down to what other offers are on the table. Don’t think Dallas offers Luka or Wood so it would be THJ or Dinwiddie at best but their young guys Green and Hardy are really good.
Miami also lacks real assets so I can’t see that happening. Phoenix I just can’t see it happening how do you fit CP3 Booker and Kyrie all in together and they who do you give up Ayton? Surely not. Crowder Shamet Saric that’s a disgusting package.
Some outside the box ideas….
1. Kyrie, Patty Mills and Cam Thomas for FVV, GTJ and Malachi Flynn
Brooklyn does really well go get back FVV (a former all star) and GTJ who is a great shooter. Both really decent defenders and shooters who could work well with Simmons, KD and Claxton.
Toronto gets a superstar in Kyrie, a very good back up PG in Patty and a real prospect in Cam Thomas. Probably giving up to much but just depends how much they want to win and how much they value Kyrie.
2. Kyrie and Cam Thomas for Will Barton, Kyle Kuzma and Delon Wright
Wizards create a big 3 of Kyrie Brad Beal and KP.
Kyrie and Beal would be insane in the backcourt together. Brooklyn gets Kuzma to play with Simmons and KD as their new big 3. Barton is a solid addition and Wright is just an expiring deal to make the money work.
3. Kyrie for Dlo, McDaniels and Naz Reid.
TWolves try to solve all their problems doubling down on superstars. Kyrie ANT KAT Gobert that’s a lot of talent and I think Kyrie ball handling, shooting, and ability to just take over could win Minnesota a lot of games. For Brooklyn Dlo comes back as an expiring deal, McDaniels is a solid prospect and Naz Reid would be a great make a great big man duo with Claxton.
Come the offseason trade away Joe Harris and you should have a bunch of money to spend building a team around KD and Simmons.
Why are some people saying trade Kyrie for AD? Wouldn’t the Lakers want to have Kyrie play with AD and LeBron?