Kyrie Irving demands to be traded before the NBA trade deadline
As the All-Star break nears closer, the Brooklyn Nets were hit with a blindside move of star point guard Kyrie Irving asking for a trade before the trade deadline.
Irving’s demand pushes for the Nets to move him before the Feb. 9 deadline. The move comes after the 30-year-old failed to work out a four-year, $198.5 million extension with Brooklyn.
He is in the final year of his deal which pays him $36.9 million. He was hoping to secure his long-term future, but that no longer seems feasible with the Nets.
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If Irving is traded, he will remain eligible to ink a two-year, $78.6 million extension with a new team until June 30. Early reports suggest that the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks have all expressed interest.
The Lakers had attempted to acquire Kyrie Irving last offseason, but that never came to fruition. Los Angeles would want to pair the star point guard alongside stars LeBron James and Anthony Daivs.
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The Lakers reportedly don’t want to include Austin Reaves or Maxie Christie in a trade package. It is believed that Los Angeles would have a deal centered around Russell Westbrook and possibly their 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are looking to pair another star player alongside Luka Doncic. Dallas hasn’t been able to get over the hump in the playoffs, and Irving could be the missing piece that may push the franchise into NBA title contention.
The Suns’ interest may lie around wanting to add a third star to play with Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
