After some rocky performances to begin the season, the Brooklyn Nets have begun righting the ship. They rattled off five wins in a row before being defeated by the Chicago Bulls 118-95 during the NBA’s Monday night slate.
They are starting to figure things out in the absence of their starting point guard, Kyrie Irving. Irving remains away from the team as he has yet to receive his COVID-19 vaccination. As a result, he remains ineligible for games played at Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden.
Not willing to have a part-time player as part of the team, the Nets told Irving he cannot return until he is eligible to be a full-time player. It seems like that won’t be happening any time soon, especially since New York Mayor-elect Eric Adams said the New York City mandate would not be changed.
As a result, the Nets have been receiving some trade calls in regards to Irving’s availability. If the Nets aren’t going to play him, it makes sense for other teams to inquire. But, according to one NBA executive that spoke to HoopsHype, a move is unlikely.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best Potential Trade Destination For Nets’ Kyrie Irving
The baggage that Irving would bring along with him to a new organization is something many teams do not want any part of.
“For the most part, every front office and coaching staff is scared to death of him and doesn’t want to touch him,” one NBA executive told HoopsHype. “Honestly, it might’ve been four teams before this (his refusal to get vaccinated). He’s a guy that front offices don’t trust. Coaches don’t want to deal with him. Players like him.”
Irving has made some waves during this career, with his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine just being the latest one. Kyrie Irving does things his own way and he has proven that he cannot be someone an organization has full trust in.
He has now essentially left the Nets high and dry three separate times during his tenure there, giving other teams all the evidence they need to know it may not be a good fit. The potential retirement if the Brooklyn Nets traded him is yet another hurdle teams would have to get past in acquiring him.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best Potential Trade Destination For Nets’ Kyrie Irving
At the end of the day, it is just not worth it for some of these organizations. The cost for acquiring him in a trade and the special treatment he would seemingly need is just too rich for other teams’ blood.
