Nets owner Joe Tsai hasn’t talked to Kyrie Irving since the organization decided against letting him be a part-time player and there’s no indication that the standoff will be resolved soon, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. The basics of the situation haven’t changed — Irving still refuses to get the COVID-19 vaccine and New York City still has a vaccination mandate in place that doesn’t allow him inside Barclays Center for home games.
“Obviously Kyrie has his own belief so I respect that. But we have to make a team decision,” Tsai said. “This is not a decision about him. This is a decision about where we go as a team. And it is just not tenable for us to have a team with a player that comes in and out, no home games, only away games. What do you do in practice then?
“This week we have a whole stretch of six home games, so we won’t have Kyrie. So it became pretty clear to us. We are very much aligned among myself, (general manager) Sean (Marks), coaching staff that this has to be (the decision), especially since we’re a team with pretty lofty aspirations. We don’t see any other way of running this team.”
Tsai refused to discuss a possible extension for Irving, who is eligible for a new contract worth $187MM over four years. There have been reports that the offer is off the table amid the vaccine controversy, but Youngmisuk notes that Tsai referred to Irving as part of the Nets’ future several times during the interview.
“I hope that Kyrie can be part of the team, part of Brooklyn long term,” Tsai said. “But I am not going to get into the extension thing. I think we have an immediate question of whether he can play this season, and I hope he gets vaccinated as soon as possible.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Tsai believes he has shown that he’s willing to spend whatever it takes to keep the Nets in title contention every year, tweets NetsDaily. “Is that still a question?” he asked. “I’m going to pay $100 million in luxury taxes this year!”
- The absence of Irving, a slow start by James Harden and the challenge of working in 10 new players has left the Nets’ offense sputtering, notes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Although Brooklyn has a wealth of talent, its current offensive rating is 101.0, which is 25th in the league. “At times (the offense) can look bad,” Kevin Durant said. “But for the most part I think we’re generating solid shots. We’re still trying to figure out what players, what best position to put different players in, which lineups work the best, where guys should be spaced out on the floor.”
- Durant was fined $25K for throwing a ball into the stands during Friday’s game, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
Trade Irving to the Sixers, Nets to rid themselves of Pain and Misery LOL
Why would philly want him? If they plan on going to the finals there’s a good chance they’d have to play brooklyn in the playoffs first, which means they’d be down 1 of their top players for every game in brooklyn.
not true because at that point he would be considered an unvaccinated visiting player which are not subject to sitting out
I mean at this point I’d rather Ben Simmons than Kyrie. Atleast if you trade Ben he’s not going to retire on the teams that gets him.
Kyrie is getting paid to not attend and they can’t trade him cause 1 no one wants to risk him feting on them and 2 all the stars on your team want him here and if you trade him will cause massive drama.
Lose-lose Situation
Doubt Nets want a guy who bailed on them. There is no reason not to get vaccinated. Unless it’s medical. Especially if you play professional sports. I can tell you NY is getting tired of him already. The guy has had surgery before. So he obviously believes in medicine and antibiotics. I’m so glad he’s NOT a Knick. Never wanted this guy. He’s been nothing but a head case since he went to Boston. Tells you about National media how they berated NYK for not signing him. Such incompetence, all about hype. Nets are not coming out East short an all star player. I would do all I can to trade him. Move him to a city that doesn’t care. Cut your loses now KD n Harden don’t have a big window. Cavs and Celtics and now Nets. ALL were bamboozled by the Head Case Kyrie. Never sign a Head Case to a max contract.
respectfully, its really not a matter of “believing in medicine.” i dont doubt the safety of these vaccines, but just because anything is considered medicine does that mean you assume it’s okay and there’s no reason not to take it?
So you don’t take any medication. Your wife only has natural birth. You don’t believe in the polio vaccine . Science has done the tests on vaccines. Just like on all medication that’s legal. Which means by our govt and science doctors and scholars. It’s considered safe. But if you do have a condition. It may not be for you. Therefore there are other ways to go. I guess you didn’t read my post thru. He’s had surgery before. Means he went under knife. Means he’s hs had medication. Means he believed it then. If Kyrie is a symbol of truth or a hero to you for his stance. I suggest you find another. Cause a guy who believes the Earth is flat. Would not have anything to to do with my life. Anything that is a legal medicine is safe to take. All medicine comes with deniers and complications for some. That’s why they are explained on pkg. By law they must tell you. And you should know your body or go see a doctor he’ll tell you. If one or the other is better for you. All of us should be about a vaccine. It works for 95% of population. It shouldn’t be Im not taking it. It should be let me get all the information before I take it. Kyrie is an Arr and people who let this fool influence them are no better. Go and find out what is best for you. But it should all be about ENDING this pandemic. So respectfully Kyrie can go F&&@ himself. He doesn’t care about his team or this society. He’s all about himself and his love for attention.
“Anything that is a legal medicine is safe to take. All medicine comes with deniers and complications for some.” Atleast wait a couple sentences before you start contradicting yourself. Complications aren’t safe.
You a child lol. Go and find Teds Head.
I guess you never read the packaging. You just swallow.
So many contradictions in this post…
The vaccines are only known for complications to the predetermined antivaxxers. It doesn’t make your body do anything it wasn’t going to do, like meds for blood pressure or diabetes do. It just provides information for a frustrated immune system to find what works against a novel invader. The government does not invent them to get you.
Name one
#LetKyriePlay
Many folks don’t seem to realize it, but BRK with Kyrie is the top favorite to win it all this year… without him… well can’t see them making it even to the ECF… which shows his importance in the team, from top dogs to just a playoff team without any chance at competing!
That is why NYC needs to stop with those silly rules, so he can do what he wants to do, play hoops!
Which one of these. Do you not understand.
A TEAM is made up of individuals. Willing to sacrifice for the sake of the team to achieve a goal. That’s Winning. Cause when the competition is as good or better than you. You only win as a TEAM. Half of you on this board will never get that. Why do you even follow Ball. Kyrie is no team player.
Together we’re stronger.
Family gets it done.
Safety’s safe together.
Dreams and teams work together.
Unified we succeed.
There’s a “U” in success.
Together we define.
Believe in the team.
That’s a great poem, Al.
How do you feel about the “Suc” in Success though?
Abbreviated “sucs.”
But that was probably on the wrong page, if it’s about one of the Balls.
I leave that to the buttholesurfers of the world.
His “issue” is solidarity with those who are losing their jobs over refusal to get the vaccine. He has said he is not antivax, but he is anti-mandate. I think that’s a ridiculous position. If you live in a society and work in an organization, you need to follow rules and laws to keep your status. Many don’t listen to reason that is safe and effective and protects those around you who may be at risk, so mandates are an effective way to force people to participate.
Kyrie wants to be a martyr for his cause, but he is failing friends, family, teammates and fans. One of his teammates has a heart condition. So he could get vaccinated to protect him. Also, he would have a better position to advocate for his beliefs that people shouldn’t be fired just for refusing the vaccine if they comply with regular testing. Sitting out while getting paid for the games for which he would’ve been eligible doesn’t make him a martyr.
A trade for Ben Simmons could be beneficial for both teams, but the Sixers don’t want to touch Kyrie right now. They seem to be willing to wait for Ben and probably have a better chance for him to rejoin the team than the Nets do at seeing Kyrie in uniform while NYC mandates remain in place.
Most of you sound like this is the first time you hear Kyrie. If you don’t know his game. You don’t know why he really left Cleveland. You don’t know why he left Boston. And you don’t know why he left the BK. Yet he’s a symbol for you. A symbol of WHAT. Obsessed engrossment.
Kyrie might have a handle. But he’s got no handle on Life. And is not a team player. No team player runs away from three teams.
“WorldBFlat”
It’s unfortunate that the recent conversations between Tsai & Kyrie, as told by Joe Tsai himself, weren’t included in this article.
Clearly Mr Tsai said he’s being patient and has had numerous conversations with Mr Irving
He’s paying him top dollar. You’d think he consider his side and more important teams side. Never been a Kyrie guy. So I don’t feel bad for anyone who signs him. Or any team who wants him.
There are over 180,000 pages of federal laws + state laws + local ordinances + school policies (which mandate vaccinations for school attendance). The I Am Against Mandates stand is so politically contrived and vacuous that it boggles the mind of someone trying to find the logic in the argument.
Please KI retires u Bozzo