AFP
KEY POINTS
- Kyrie Irving reportedly followed Kevin Durant’s move and requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets
- The Los Angeles Lakers were singled out as a sensible destination for Irving
- The Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns are reportedly among the teams interested in Irving
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving’s tenure with the team may be coming to an end.
The eight-time All-Star requested a trade from the team ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline on Thursday, The Athletic‘s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported, citing unnamed league sources.
ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Associated Press‘ Brian Mahoney also reported that Irving wants out of the Nets.
This development came after Irving reportedly failed to reach a deal with Brooklyn regarding a new contract. Hence, all eyes will be on the one-time NBA champion until Thursday.
Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency in July.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023
There is a possibility that the Nets may ignore Irving’s trade request and wait until he leaves via free agency in July. But there are reportedly several teams expected to come knocking.
According to ESPN and The Athletic, at the top of the list of teams expected to express interest in discussing an Irving trade is the Los Angeles Lakers.
While the team’s 2022-23 NBA campaign has not exactly been impressive, Irving “has maintained an interest in the Lakers,” Wojnarowski reported.
A trade sending Irving to the Lakers would reunite him with former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate LeBron James and All-Star big man Anthony Davis.
This scenario could reignite the Russell Westbrook trade rumors that began last summer.
While a Westbrook for Irving trade would make sense, it all hinges on what the Nets would agree to. They may also ask for the Lakers’ future first-round picks.
Los Angeles still holds the rights to its 2027 and 2029 first-round selections. However, they are a bit reserved in dealing these picks away. It remains to be seen if that stance will change if Irving is at the center of a potential trade deal.
Aside from the Lakers, there are several other teams reportedly interested in the top pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. That list includes the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns, according to The Athletic.
As for Westbrook, who has accepted and thrived in a reserve role, there are teams interested in his services. One of them is reportedly the Utah Jazz, which, according to Chris Haynes of the Bleacher Report, has held talks with the purple and gold management.
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