The Brooklyn Nets are going to begin the 2021-22 NBA season without their starting point guard, Kyrie Irving. There is a chance that we won’t see Irving in a Nets uniform this season and that he has played his last game for the organization.
Irving has decided to not get the COVID-19 vaccination. He is within his rights to do so, but there are repercussions for his actions. As a member of the Nets, that means that he is ineligible for more than half the games in the regular season.
New York has a mandate in place that requires vaccination to take part in indoor events.
Games at the Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden fall under that mandate, meaning Irving is not allowed to play in 43 regular-season games and any subsequent playoff games until he is vaccinated.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Players For Brooklyn Nets To Consider In Kyrie Irving Trade
Not interested in allowing Irving to play with part-time availability, the team announced that he would be sidelined as long as he remains unvaccinated. He is forfeiting millions of dollars in salary this season as a result and even more in future earnings. The Nets took a $186 million extension off the table as well.
With his future uncertain in Brooklyn, the Nets are now open to listening to trade offers for him. According to Zach Lowe, there are a few teams to keep an eye on, one of them being the Miami Heat. Here is one hypothetical package that could land Kyrie Irving in South Beach.
