‘Can’t Count On You:’ Charles Barkley Doesn’t Hold Back On Nets’ Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets, NBA Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

One of the more intriguing NBA offseason storylines this year will be what the Brooklyn Nets do with point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving has a player option, so he can opt out of his contract for the 2022-23 season and look to receive a long-term deal as a free agent.

That deal can be worth as much as $245.6 million, but it has been reported that the Nets are unwilling to give him a long-term deal right now. Production and skills-wise, it would be a no-brainer for the Nets to sign him to a long-term extension. However, there is a lot more that goes into it.

Whether it was for injuries or choices that he made, Irving has missed a ton of time during his tenure with the Nets. It is easy to understand why the Nets are hesitant, as they just cannot count on him being available as much as they need him to be to challenge for an NBA Championship.

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Irving is a polarizing figure and different people have shared wide-ranging opinions about him. One person whose thinking is in line with the Nets is Charles Barkley.

He recently spoke about a few things involving the Nets, including Irving’s looming free agency.

“If it was me, I would say, ‘Hey guy, we can’t trust you,’” Barkley said. “We don’t know what you’re going to do. We’re going to pay you that $40 million next year to see if you’re going to act right. Because if you don’t act right with $40 million, you’re definitely not going to act right with $240 million. So I’m not giving you a four-year extension for $200 million because we can’t count on you.’”

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Another layer to this is how it would impact the organization’s relationship with Kevin Durant. Durant wanted to team up with Irving and they joined the Nets together. If they decide to move on from Irving, will that mean Durant won’t be far behind asking for a trade out of Brooklyn?

There is a lot that Sean Marks and the Nets’ front office are going to have to sift through this offseason. This is a roster that could look a lot different once the 2022-23 season rolls around, especially if they stick to their stance of playing hardball with Irving, potentially irking Durant in the process.

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