It’s becoming more and more obvious: Kyrie Irving wants to leave the Brooklyn Nets.
Rumors have been swirling about Irving’s desire to ditch his team but there was some speculation about how serious he was.
Now it’s clear that Irving really is searching for a new NBA home – but his options are quite limited.
Other than the Lakers, there are no known teams pursuing a sign-and-trade for Kyrie Irving, per @wojespn
The Nets aren't believed to be interested in the Lakers' packages pic.twitter.com/2uR8pHM1Gm
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 27, 2022
It is being reported that aside from the Los Angeles Lakers, no other teams in the league are pursuing a sign-and-trade deal for Irving.
Meanwhile, reports say that the Nets aren’t interested in any possible packages the Lakers can put together.
So, what does that mean for the future of Irving in purple and gold?
Bye Bye, Brooklyn
Even though the Nets are reportedly unhappy with what LA is putting on the table, Irving still has the upper hand here.
That’s because he has made two things clear: he wants to play for the Lakers and he is willing to give up a lot of money to do so.
Recent reports state that Irving is very motivated to sign a deal with his old friend and championship teammate LeBron James in Los Angeles.
As for the sign-and-trade deal, Irving doesn’t need that.
Irving can bypass Brooklyn, turn down his upcoming player option, and sign with the Lakers for a $6 million exception.
He’d lose tons of money but get what he wants.
Plus, in a year he could re-negotiate his contract and earn much more.
The Nets aren’t going to give him a max extension no matter what so Irving won’t be happy with anything they offer.
Now it’s just a matter of deciding how much he’s willing to forfeit to meet his goal.
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