Kyrie Irving’s time as a member of the Brooklyn Nets may have run out. Although Irving’s three seasons in New York have been spectacular, his unwillingness to capitulate to the norms of an NBA team and his refusal to abide by the rules of New York’s lawmakers, has left a sour taste in the mouths of the organization.
During his first year donning the black and white, Irving may have averaged 27.4 points per game, tying his career high, but the crafty guard played in just 20 games due to injury and his refusal to play at times due to personal reasons. His sophomore campaign was much of the same. While Irving was nearly impossible to stop while on the court, he languished on the sidelines when it mattered most.
Acrimonious at this point, this past season was the straw that broke the camel’s back. With Irving opting against receiving the Covid-19 vaccine, he was unable to play home games for most of the season. In addition to that, Brooklyn informed their headstrong guard to remain home. Although eventually, Brooklyn buckled underneath public demand and their desire to win, adding Irving back into the fold didn’t help their title chances.
LA viewed as the likely team to snag Kyrie Irving
With Irving averaging just 21.3 points per game during the 2022 postseason, the second lowest of his playoff career, Brooklyn was sent home packing at the hands of the Boston Celtics via sweep.
Unsurprisingly, the franchise has made it clear to Irving that they are unwilling to offer him a long-term contract, something that could push Irving out the door. If he does opt to take his talents elsewhere, according to at least one sports book, the LA Clippers have emerged as the frontrunners to sign him.
Where to next, Kyrie? pic.twitter.com/1bGJimG2N7
— Locked On Podcast Network (@LockedOnNetwork) April 26, 2022
It’s a take of two tapes as LA is currently listed at a +200 to nab Irving according to BetOnline.ag, while the Dallas Mavericks at +250 have the second-best odds.
Although mouthwatering, it appears unlikely that Irving dons a Clippers uniform next season. In addition to LA’s tenuous cap space, the acquisitions of Norman Powell and Robert Covington, as well as the return of a healthy Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, have the Clippers near the top of next season’s championship favorites.
Ultimately, with free agency only a few months away, and with the familiarity between Irving and current Clipper head coach Ty Lue, having coached Irving to an NBA Championship in 2016, a reunion between the pair has to be taken seriously.