After James Harden, who left for Philadelphia in February, is Kyrie Irving will be the next to leave Brooklyn? Arrived in 2019 in the suitcases of Kevin Durant to form a shock duo, the 2016 NBA champion has the possibility of playing his « player option » by June 29 to complete his contract with the Nets, or negotiate a new contract. This would be his wish, and the leaders would not be opposed to it, provided that he shows more involvement. It must be said that the choice of Kyrie Irving not to be vaccinated, and therefore to deprive himself of home matches, weighed down the Nets season.
According to The Athletic, the first contacts would not have unlocked anything. Our colleagues even speak of an impasse, and Kyrie Irving would therefore consider testing the market. Inevitably, if this is the case, his mere presence will shake up the plans of certain teams, and three teams could position themselves: the Knicks, the Clippers and the Lakers.
On paper, Kyrie Irving can claim a salary of more than $ 36 million, and for the three formations, it will necessarily be necessary to negotiate a “sign-and-trade”. At the Lakers, only one player would do: Russell Westbrook. But it is not certain that Kevin Durant sees a good eye on his arrival. Perhaps it will be necessary to imagine a triangle deal, but who will want to encumber himself with Westbrook’s salary, while facilitating the arrival of Irving at the Lakers? We recall that the two franchises would have been in contact during the season…
At the Clippers, we have a few players, like Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson and Norman Powell, whose combined salaries could make it possible to make an offer. But then again, the Nets will probably want more than a starless “package”.
Finally, if they are really interested in the player, the Knicks seem to be the best option, and they can perfectly mount a “sign-and-trade” to satisfy their neighbors. The real question is rather whether they are ready to let go of an RJ Barrett and future first rounds of the Draft for Kyrie Irving…
Player option : possibility for a player to activate (or not) the last year of his contract, in order to end his lease or become a “free agent” one year in advance.
| Kyrie Irving | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | CLE | 51 | 31 | 46.9 | 39.9 | 87.2 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 18.5 |
| 2012-13 | CLE | 59 | 35 | 45.2 | 39.1 | 85.5 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 22.5 |
| 2013-14 | CLE | 71 | 35 | 43.0 | 35.8 | 86.1 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| 2014-15 | CLE | 75 | 36 | 46.8 | 41.5 | 86.3 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 21.7 |
| 2015-16 | CLE | 53 | 32 | 44.8 | 32.2 | 88.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 19.6 |
| 2016-17 | CLE | 72 | 35 | 47.3 | 40.1 | 90.5 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 25.2 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 60 | 32 | 49.1 | 40.8 | 88.9 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 24.4 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 67 | 33 | 48.7 | 40.1 | 87.3 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | BRK | 20 | 33 | 47.8 | 39.4 | 92.2 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 27.4 |
| 2020-21 | BRK | 54 | 35 | 50.6 | 40.2 | 92.2 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 26.9 |
| 2021-22 | BRK | 29 | 38 | 46.9 | 41.8 | 91.5 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 27.5 |
| Total | 611 | 34 | 47.0 | 39.3 | 88.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 23.1 | |
