Brooklyn Nets fans can release a sigh of relief, as it sounds like they will have their NBA All-Star duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant back in the mix after all. After some posturing done by Irving, it sounds like the Nets have won a battle against him for the first time.
Last week, it was reported that Irving had his eye on a few different teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and New York Knicks, should negotiations with the Nets not go well. Irving has a player option for the 2022-23 season which he could decline in hopes of landing a new long-term deal.
Unwilling to do that, the Nets and Irving reached an impasse, which led to the rumors swirling about him leaving the team. It was a high-stakes game of chicken, as the Nets knew they risked alienating Durant, who was monitoring the situation. Had Irving opted out and left the organization, Durant likely wouldn’t have been too far behind.
That isn’t something the organization will have to worry about, at least for this offseason, as Irving is returning to the Brooklyn Nets. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Irving will opt into his player option for the upcoming season which is worth $37 million.
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In addition to that, he shared a quote from Kyrie Irving. He said, “Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different lead us into tomorrow. I’ve made my decision to opt in. See you in the fall. AK11”
This is a big step for the Brooklyn Nets, who can regain some control over the organization. Kyrie Irving tried to pull a power move and it backfired, as he learned the hard way that there really was no interest in him around the league at the asking price that he had. It was essentially the Nets for $37 million or nothing.
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No one is going to pass on $37 million for the uncertainty that faced Irving, so he will once again team up with Kevin Durant and try to find success on the court. With this now behind them, the front office can get to work on rounding out the roster around their All-Star duo in hopes of challenging for a title that they haven’t been close to yet in their tenure in Brooklyn.
