Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Kyrie Irving

Brooklyn Nets Receive: G D’Angelo Russell, 2023 First-Round Pick (MIN)

This deal finds one team deciding that talent is more important than reliability, and the other team drawing the opposite conclusion.

The Brooklyn Nets finally decide that they’ve had enough of Irving’s regular, non-injury-related absences. They’re taking a talent cut to roster a point guard who suits up to play whenever he’s able. Getting a first-round pick in exchange doesn’t hurt either.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves decide to gamble on talent. Say what you will about Kyrie Irving, but he’s incredible at basketball. Few would argue that he’s not a better player than Russell.

It’s not hard to imagine either side either accepting or declining this deal. It raises philosophical questions: is what a player does when he gets on a basketball court more important than his willingness to be there in the first place?

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Depending on how either team answers that question, this deal becomes more or less realistic.