Report: Brooklyn Nets may be ‘willing to listen’ to Kyrie Irving trade offers this offseason
Could the Brooklyn Nets current superteam be over sooner than expected? That could be the case, according to an author close to the team.
Matt Sullivan just released the book Can’t Knock The Hustle: Inside the Season of Protest, Pandemic, and Progress with the Brooklyn Nets’ Superstars of Tomorrow. On Tuesday, he appeared on the Celtics Lab podcast, and dropped some behind-the-scenes info that didn’t make it into the final edition – regarding Kyrie Irving.
“Let me give you guys a little news, I’m not sure that’s been out there. I’ve heard that Nets ownership was quite upset with Kyrie’s ‘pause,’ especially that maskless party that turned his psuedo-paternity leave into more like a COVID suspension,” Sullivan told the hosts of the show. “In the last week I’ve heard rumblings – whispers, really, because cracking the Nets is kind of like breaking into the Kremlin, that Brooklyn GM Sean Marks would maybe, possibly, apparently be willing to at least listen to a trade offer for Kyrie this offseason.”
Sullivan pointed out that he believes the issues with Irving’s behavior exist within the front office, and may not extend to the locker room. “I think it’s been annoying some people in the franchise,” he explained. “I can’t speak to his teammates, who obviously want to play with one of the world’s best and get him back there.”
Would the Nets’ decision-makers risk alienating their other two superstars in Kevin Durant and James Harden, in order to ease the burden of having to deal with Irving’s unpredictable nature. Even if they did, would the return be worth it? Sullivan doesn’t think so, due mostly in part to the reasons the team would look to trade him in the first place.
“I’m not sure what the market for Kyrie is at this point,” he pondered. “It’s not like Ben Simmons giving you the headache on the court. It’s that complex personality that comes from off the court.”
Sullivan appeared on Toucher & Rich last week to discuss his book and time around the Nets. You can listen to that interview below.
Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Celtics.
Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].
