The most recent part of the saga between the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving has concluded. Irving decided to opt into his $36 million player option for the 2022-23 NBA season.
There was a lot of posturing in the last week or so about Irving looking for a new home on the trade market. There were even six teams, the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, that he was eying as his next landing spot.
He must not have received the interest that he was hoping for, as his power play failed. He didn’t get the long-term extension he was looking for from the Nets and a trade partner never materialized as every other team around the league seemingly felt the same way.
Irving lost his game of chicken with the Nets, but he could still be traded at some point during the season. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Nets could still move him but the opt-in means that he is no longer eligible for the long-term deal that he was seeking in any sign-and-trade scenario.
The Nets have won the battle with Irving this time around, but the war is still up for grabs. Brooklyn will do everything they can this season to contend for a championship again, but the next offseason is when things could get really hairy as Irving will be a free agent.
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Based on talent and production on the court alone, Irving is a no-brainer max contract candidate. But his inability to stay on the court and be available to play is what makes that kind of contract a very risky one for a team to offer him.
There is also his relationship with Kevin Durant that needs to be taken into account. If Irving is disappointed and tries to leave the organization again, Durant very well could follow him out the door.
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For now, the Brooklyn Nets have their All-Star duo back in the mix. But, things could change between now and the regular season. As an expiring contract, Kyrie Irving would have more value than on a long-term big-money extension.
