It didn’t take long for potential destinations for Kyrie Irving to emerge. Irving, who requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, has already attracted several huge suitors.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, “The Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks have emerged as potential suitors for Brooklyn Nets All-Star starter Kyrie Irving.”
The Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks have emerged as potential suitors for Brooklyn Nets All-Star starter Kyrie Irving, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023
In reporting the news of Irving’s trade request, Charania made sure to point out that the Nets have been informed that Irving prefers to move on from the franchise ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline. If he isn’t, he’ll leave in free agency.
Chris Haynes, a senior NBA insider for TNT and Bleacher Report, mentioned an interesting possibility. It would presumably prevent Brooklyn’s season from crumbling in the fallout of an Irving trade. The Nets (31-20) currently hold the Eastern’s Conference fourth-best record.
“Phoenix is viewed as one of the few teams capable of facilitating a deal with Brooklyn that could keep both teams in championship pursuit,” Haynes tweeted.
Phoenix is viewed as one of the few teams capable of facilitating a deal with Brooklyn that could keep both teams in championship pursuit.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 3, 2023
Kevin Durant stands as a major factor too.
“Among rival teams, there’s far more interest in inquiring on Kevin Durant’s reaction to Kyrie Irving’s trade request and how that may impact KD’s future with the Nets,” Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted.
Among rival teams, there's far more interest in inquiring on Kevin Durant's reaction to Kyrie Irving's trade request and how that may impact KD's future with the Nets.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 3, 2023
It remains to be seen how aggressive teams will be in their pursuit of Irving. But it’s an interesting development that Durant’s status with the Nets is being monitored yet again.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.