NBA Rumors: Knicks, Lakers Could Jockey To Pry Irving From Nets This Summer

Kyrie Irving’s future with the Brooklyn Nets is not looking too good, made even worse with the team’s shock exit in the 2021-22 NBA playoffs.

Several factors contributed to this, particularly the 30-year-old guard’s decision not to get jabbed. This led to him playing for the Nets on a part-time basis, an arrangement that partly contributed to the team’s struggles in the regular season.

Although Kevin Durant and, for a time, James Harden were around, it remained that head coach Steve Nash had a rough time making it all work. Chemistry was hardly established with the three superstars struggling to connect.

Last month, Nets general manager Sean Marks emphasized how they wanted selfless players. One of the key things he said at the time was Irving needed to make decisions on his own as a player.

"We haven't had any of those discussions yet, so it would be unfair for me to comment on how it looks with us and Kyrie because to be quite frank, he has some decisions to make on his own. He has to look at what he's going to do with his player option," the Nets executive said.

According to sources, the Nets and the Irving are at an impasse when it comes to the NBA cager’s future, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported.

He went on to single out the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers as possible landing spots should the seven-time All-Star hit the open market.

But unless that happens, it would be best to take it with a grain of salt. It all starts with Irving and what he intends to do moving forward. Tied to that is the fact that he did not take the jab, meaning he could be a health risk to other players and others present during games.

For the Nets, it will be a problem as well if Irving walks. Ben Simmons was acquired but he is someone who also needs to thresh things out with Brooklyn Nets’ management.