It’s another season and there is more drama when it comes to Kyrie Irving. Irving today requested to be traded from the Nets before the February 9 deadline. Throughout Irving’s time in the NBA, there have been a lot of stories that swirl around him that could cause the team to be hesitant to trade for him. Right now, Shams Charania’s sources say that the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks are potential suitors’. These three teams and others may be willing to make the trade for the talent he has but there is a chance that if the Nets cannot get the best deal back of Irving they will keep him even if he may decide to sit out for the rest of the year.
Out of the Box Locations for Irving
Kyrie Irving is such a talented player multiple teams will throw their hats into the ring and see what the Nets are asking for him. One of those teams that may ask is the New York Knicks to add a true number-one star to a team that is in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference. They have seven first-round draft picks combined in the next three drafts and young players the Nets might be interested in. What might hold back the Knicks is whether they would be willing to give up some of their young talents like RJ Barrett or Obi Toppin, which they did not want to do this summer with Donovan Mitchell.
Another team that would be a surprising team to try and get Kyrie Irving is the Los Angeles Clippers. They have a couple of first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2029 that could be attractive to the Nets but they also have role players that the Nets could use to make a playoff run. In the trade, they could ask for Norman Powell, Terrance Mann, and/or Ivica Zubac who would help this Nets roster. Another attractive part of going to the Clippers is that Irving would reunite with Ty Lue. And the Clippers would have a big three with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
The Front Runners
Based on Shams the Lakers, Suns, and Mavericks are teams that are looking for a talented piece to take them to the next level. For the Lakers, they have been looking for another star to put along Lebron James and Anthony Davis after Russell Westbrook not panning out. Reuniting James and Irving could be a dynamic duo that could push the Lakers to get into the playoffs and make a run for a championship. What it comes down to is whether the Nets will take on a Russell Westbrook contract with Kevin Durant and Westbrook not being the greatest of friends.
The Suns would be an interesting trade partner because they would be able to give Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, and future draft capital. The Suns would have to add draft picks along with those players. Under new ownership, they could be in the driver’s seat to push for an NBA Championship. Irving and Devin Booker would a dynamic duo with very few teams being able to stop them.
The last team would be the Dallas Mavericks which would give Luka Doncic another star to be around him. The one thing Doncic has not had in his years in the NBA is another star besides him. They have pieces like Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and draft picks. Doncic has been playing like an MVP this season and the Mavericks are fourth in the Western Conference right now and with a move for Irving could move them to another level.
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