The Brooklyn Nets have a lot to sift through when it comes to the Kevin Durant trade request. There were only two NBA teams mentioned as being on his list of preferred landing spots, but Brooklyn has been contracted by over half of the league already in regards to acquiring him in a trade.
Because of his trade request, many people assumed that Kyrie Irving would also be made available in a trade. He and the Nets haven’t seen eye to eye recently and with Durant looking to leave, it made sense that he would be on the move as well.
Irving had a player option for the 2022-23 season that he was looking to turn into a long-term deal. The Nets were unwilling to sign him to a multi-year extension, so he assessed the situation around the league. The market was likely cold, which is why he opted in to his contract, ending the chance of landing a long-term deal this summer.
Should a trade arise, many assumed that Irving would still be open to the idea. However, according to recent reports, Brooklyn is where he wants to be whether Kevin Durant is there or not.
A source close to Irving told The Post that the All-Star point guard not only never asked for a trade, but has had every intention of playing for Brooklyn — with or without Durant.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Brooklyn Nets Preparing To Bring Back Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving?
That is certainly a change-up from where things were at the onset of free agency. Unless that was just a power play by Irving that failed, it sounded like he was ready to leave Brooklyn should the opportunity at a long-term deal present itself.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been mentioned as a potential landing spot, which would allow Irving to team up with LeBron James once again. While James did win a championship with Anthony Davis and the Lakers in 2020, the two haven’t come close to replicating the success they had together with the Cleveland Cavaliers when they were consistently making deep runs in the postseason.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Brooklyn Nets Preparing To Bring Back Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving?
But, Kyrie Irving did choose the Nets as a free agent in 2019, so there is a possibility this is where he wants to be. He just has an odd way of showing it if that is truly the case and he wants to remain in Brooklyn no matter what.
