Even for Kyrie Irving, this ending could be spectacular in its scope.
Everywhere the spectacle that is Irving has gone has been left reeling when he has abruptly exited. He has quit super-teams (Cavaliers and now Nets), alienated former teammates (Celtics) and created messes that he never had to clean up (all three). This time, though, it might not just be one team that is left in a lurch.
Sure, the Nets could implode. But the Mavericks, who convinced themselves they could pacify a superstar whom three other teams could not, have taken a monumental risk in putting Irving next to Luka Doncic. And the first signs out of Lakers camp signal LeBron James is not taking rejection well after the team could not figure out how to make a James-Irving reunion work.
There are scenarios — not even far-fetched ones! — in which Irving’s past few days could lead to the destruction of three separate NBA organizations. In demanding a trade away from an Eastern Conference contender and forcing each team to measure how much it craves glory and how much pain it can stomach, Irving has knocked down a fascinating domino.
