The Brooklyn Nets entered February preparing to be a championship contender with All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving leading the team and forward Kevin Durant nearing a return. Just days before the NBA trade deadline, the franchise is now scrambling to adjust its approach.
Irving, who earned his eighth NBA All-Star selection this year, is delivering another productive season for the Nets. After playing just 29 games last season, Irving has started 40 games this year and provided stability following Durant’s injury.
- Kyrie Irving career stats: 23.3 PPG, 5.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 47.1% FG
Brooklyn entered last week planning to be aggressive at the NBA trade deadline, wanting to add a piece to pair with Durant and Irving that would allow it to compete for the NBA Finals. However, that approach was scrapped following Irving’s trade request.
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The Nets won on Saturday without Irving, defeating the Washington Wizards 125-123 to maintain fourth place in the Eastern Conference. However, the organization’s stance on a long-term extension with Irving pushed the All-Star guard to demand a trade.
As the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks engage in preliminary negotiations with Brooklyn, it appears increasingly likely that a deal could happen by the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline.
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According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets are “determined to find a deal’ that would send Irving out before Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. NBA teams involved in negotiations have been told that Brooklyn wants a trade package that will allow it to remain a contender this season.
The Nets’ stance isn’t surprising based on what transpired in recent days. After Irving requested a trade, multiple NBA teams began monitoring Durant with speculation that he could demand a trade this summer.
Brooklyn likely wants to prove to the future Hall of Famer that it can still be a championship contender. However, the potential trade packages the Clippers, Mavericks and Lakers could offer could incentive Durant to request a deal this summer. The Nets’ approach also helps explain why the Suns are viewed as the favorites around the NBA to acquire Irving.
Irving reportedly wants a four-year max extension worth around $198.5 million, an offer Brooklyn wasn’t willing to make without stipulations. Once it became clear the two sides couldn’t agree to terms, Irving requested a trade. If he is moved, he becomes eligible for a two-year, $78.6 million extension until June 30.
