Kyrie Irving demanded that the Brooklyn Nets trade him this week after both sides failed to agree on a long-term deal.
Almost immediately, four teams bubbled up to the surface as very legitimate contenders for his services. A fifth emerged shortly after.
By all accounts, the Nets are eager to oblige Irving’s request. They are tired of his antics and want to move on.
But what if they can’t? What if the team is unable to get a deal for him ahead of Feb. 9’s NBA Trade Deadline?
Well, in that scenario there seems to be a good chance that Irving will simply opt to sit out the rest of the year.
According to ESPN NBA insider Stephen A. Smith, Irving has zero desire to remain in Brooklyn past next week.
“Kyrie Irving is prepared to sit out the rest of the season if need be,” he said.
“That’s what I’m being told. I don’t know whether I believe that, but that’s what people are saying.”
To say that Smith isn’t a huge fan of Irving’s right now would probably be an understatement.
“Idiotic… All we ever questioned was: can the man go the rest of the season without being any kind of distraction, if he’s gonna have a chance to get his money,” he continued.
“And lo and behold he pulls this.”
The Lakers’ best trade offer for Irving is something of a known fact at this point. Between them and a couple of other desperate teams, it feels inevitable that a move for Irving will occur.
LeBron James’ encounter with a female fan at the Lakers game goes viral. https://t.co/zNDBZrGrtD
— Game 7 (@game7__) February 5, 2023
That said, it would be hilarious if it didn’t.
Nothing would be more poetic than Irving missing the rest of a year many believed he should have been suspended for anyway.
Will Irving get his wish and be on a new team come Feb. 9? Time will tell.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
