The Brooklyn Nets are a mess right now.
After getting swept in the first round of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics, many questions needed to be answered heading into the off-season. One of the main questions was whether the Nets would sign Kyrie Irving to a long-term deal.
Kyrie Irving is expected to find a new team by opting in and requesting a trade, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/Po3zXI4Xcs
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 23, 2022
On the Nets, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving: pic.twitter.com/xphBIP8LB3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2022
Right now, that’s looking less likely by the day, and Irving is basically holding the franchise hostage. According to earlier reports, Irving’s leverage against the Nets is if he leaves, Kevin Durant may leave as well. Both signed with the Nets in 2019.
The latest report from Shams Charania of The Athletic is Irving is looking for the Nets to trade him when he opts into the last year of his contract. Irving also gave the Nets a list of six teams he’d like to be traded to.
That leads us to Durant, who Charania also reported was seriously mulling his future options as he observes the current situation with Irving.
Sources: Kevin Durant is monitoring the Brooklyn Nets’ situation and considering options with his future.
This now opens the path for Kyrie Irving to proceed on finding a new home via opt-in and trade.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2022
If Irving and Durant leave, that would only leave the Nets with one potentially promising player, which is Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played an NBA game in roughly over a year now.
All of this depends on what happens between the Nets and Irving. If they offer him the long-term deal he wants, the team is safe. If they try to low-ball him, expect this team to head down a long, dark road.
