Kyrie Irving Receives Permission From Brooklyn Nets To Seek Trade

Kyrie Irving’s future with the Brooklyn Nets was very uncertain heading into the offseason. The controversial star sat out most of the season after refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Nets have been trying to work out a new deal to keep him in Brooklyn, but those talks seem to have fallen apart.

The New York Daily News has reported that Kyrie Irving has requested and received permission to speak to other teams. Irving is likely to look for a sign-and-trade deal. That means he would sign a contract with the Nets so that they could trade him to another squad rather than simply losing him to free agency.

Kyrie Irving only appeared in 103 regular-season games as a member of the Nets. The first year was complicated due to a shoulder injury. In the second year he had lengthy absences for personal reasons. This year, he missed a huge chunk of the season due to the vaccine issue.

The Nets have been unwilling to give Kyrie a long-term contact with financial guarantees due to that instability. Now, Irving is planning to test the waters elsewhere. His long-rumored reuinion with LeBron James in Los Angeles could be on the way.

If Kyrie leaves the team in free agency, the Nets will face a significant salary-cap shortfall. The team would not be able to sign a replacement. That’s why the sign-and-trade option may be best for both Irving and the team.

It will be interesting to see what kind of return the Nets can pull for Kyrie Irving. There is no doubt he can still play. What other franchises are willing to give up for a player many consider unreliable is another question entirely.

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments!