While they are championship contenders in the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets path to an NBA championship definitely got harder this week when the organization decided to keep Kyrie Irving out of practices and away games. Irving is not vaccinated and as a result, he is ineligible to play in Nets’ home games this year per New York City vaccine mandates.
Visiting players and staff are able to attend/play in games in both Barclays Center (Nets) and Madison Square Garden (Knicks), but players from New York’s teams are not permitted to enter the arena unless they are vaccinated.
This rule sounds a little hypocritical and does not appear to make much sense in terms of “away players are immune to COVID, but home players are not,” but unfortunately, the Brooklyn Nets do not really have any way around this guideline right now.
As a result, the team announced on October 12 that the 7-time All-Star would not be practicing with the team anymore or play in games until he can be a “full participant,” meaning that he is not permitted to be with the team until he is vaccinated OR until the NYC guidelines/mandates are lifted.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Kyrie Irving At Start Of Season
General manager Sean Marks spoke for the Brooklyn Nets this week and released the following statement in regards to Irving’s situation:
“Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant. Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability. It is imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-established values of togetherness and sacrifice. Our championship goals for the season have not changed, and to achieve these goals each member of our organization must pull in the same direction. We are excited for the start of the season and look forward to a successful campaign that will make the borough of Brooklyn proud.”
Kyrie Irving being out does not affect the Brooklyn Nets as much as it would affect other teams in this league because of the fact that they have two former league-MVPs in James Harden and Kevin Durant, but this is still a big blow to this team.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Kyrie Irving At Start Of Season
Having all three All-Stars out there on the court together makes the Nets almost impossible to stop offensively, hence why they were one of the favorites to win the championship heading into the season.
Their chances to win a championship are still extremely high, but others will have to step up in place of Kyrie for the moment. As things stand right now, the Brooklyn Nets are not actively trying to trade Irving, but if the right trade comes their way, Sean Marks and this front-office could be willing to discuss a potential trade.
Let’s take a look at three players that the Brooklyn Nets could consider bringing in to their organization in a trade that would ship Kyrie Irving elsewhere in the league.
