Brooklyn Nets Receive: G D’Angelo Russell
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Kyrie Irving
This may look crazy, but hold on just a second because this trade may just be simple enough to work!
D’Angelo Russell is under contract through next season and is making a total of $61.3M through then. Kyrie Irving is under contract through next season as well, but he does have that $36.5M player option and should he opt into it, he is owed a total of $71.4M through 2022.
The Brooklyn Nets could save themselves a lot of tax money by taking Russell instead of Irving next season and the big question mark for Brooklyn is if Kyrie will ever be able to play in New York. Because of New York City guidelines, Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, is ineligible to play and he will be ineligible until he becomes fully vaccinated.
This does not seem like something Irving is going to give into, as he has stood firmly on his stance of the COVID-19 vaccine, which could wind up making things not only complicated for his potential return at the end of this season, but for next season as well.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nets Willing To Listen To Kyrie Irving Trade Offers — Full Details
New York City may very well keep their guidelines in place for years to come, resulting in Irving having to continue sitting out for the Nets. Does he really want to be in a place where he cannot play?
Ultimately, there is a big chance he could opt out of his contract with the Nets for next season and sign elsewhere that way the multi-time All-Star and potential future Hall-of-Famer can actually play the game he loves with no restrictions.
In Minnesota, Kyrie Irving not only has a chance to compete and play again, but he would get to do so with two other All-Star-like talents in Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, making for a very intriguing trio on the offensive-end of the floor.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nets Willing To Listen To Kyrie Irving Trade Offers — Full Details
As for the Nets, if they are going to trade Irving, they are going to need to receive a “championship-ready” player and D’Angelo Russell is more than capable of being this third star for them. In fact, the team did not want to give up Russell ahead of the 2019-20 season, but they had to in order to acquire Kevin Durant from the Warriors in his sign-and-trade deal.
Russell has always been a favorite of management in Brooklyn and a fan-favorite as well, so his return to New York would be welcomed by virtually everyone. If Kevin Durant and James Harden are alright with letting Kyrie Irving go, then the Brooklyn Nets could very well make this trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
