Rival teams believe the Nets would be open to making a sign-and-trade deal involving Kyrie Irving this offseason, Ian Begley of SNY.tv writes. Irving could turn down a $36.5MM player option to enter unrestricted free agency.
The 30-year-old appeared in 29 games this season, averaging 27.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per contest. He missed much of the season because of New York City’s vaccine requirement, which prevented the team from building needed chemistry.
Finalizing a sign-and-trade agreement involving Irving would be challenging, given that his value isn’t at its peak right now. Whether or not Kyrie is back, the Nets intend to target high-character players this offseason to complement Kevin Durant, according to Begley.
Here are some other notes from the Atlantic:
- Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca puts together a Raptors free agency primer, highlighting the team’s free agents, draft picks and general outlook. Toronto is coming off a season in which it finished with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference at 48-34. The team lost in six games to Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.
- Raptors star Pascal Siakam discussed receiving All-NBA honors for the second straight season, as relayed by Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Siakam made the All-NBA Third Team this season, averaging 22.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. “Going through what I’ve been through as a person and as a basketball player it makes me grow,” Siakam said. “And knowing how fast things can change, I also understand the responsibility that I have to keep the pressure on, keep my foot on the gas, knowing that there’s always [new] levels I can get to.”
- Fred Katz of The Athletic examines the Knicks’ offseason in his latest mailbag. New York missed the playoffs this season after an impressive 2020/21 campaign. The team owns the No. 11 pick in the draft and has center Mitchell Robinson entering unrestricted free agency.
How about this?
Knicks get Westbrook and 2027 Lakers top-5 protected First
Lakers get Randle, Fournier
No way!!
Knicks need more picks, or Lakers take walker also. Randle, AD TOO SLOW to play together? If you have to live with Westbrook must clear Walker also…
Nets S&T Westbrook to the Hornets. Hayward and Terry to the Nets, and Kyrie and Seth to the Lakers.
Hahaha. Why not throw in Durant, Lamelo, and 10 unprotected firsts to the Lakers, too, while you’re at it?
Dyson Daniels moving up the boards.
Mark Williams C from Duke moving up.
Shaedon Sharpe a big talent moving up.
Duren and athletic Center (18 yrs old) with big upside. Moving up.
Imo these are good signs for my NYKs at #11.
And this means there will be a solid pick there for us. Even a chance to trade up for a player like Mathurin.
There is lots of chatter about teams trading up. It seems like the right move for a few teams. Draft is huge for us this yr. This is a deep 1st rd imo. There will be stars to come out of this draft after 10. Knicks should be doing their homework. Please …..
So all the media geniuses. And the internet mongers. Who all told us how Kyrie and KD didn’t want to come to Knicks .
Wow !!!!! why would they when the Nets were so much better. How inept NYK was for not signing them. How nobody wants to come to NY.
Well how’s that working in Bklyn ????
Guy doesn’t even play in Bklyn. The air head, now not even wanted on Any team. Who is going to trade for Kyrie. Why would they. Seems to me like Nets are stuck with him.
Al, do you really think Brunson is really going to push this team as a East contender? Even with JB, they aren’t a top 4 team no matter how hard you try to sell us on Randle and Barrett. Neither player is good enough to be a 2nd or 3rd best player on a title contending team.
So you’re very happy that Kyrie is suffering from not earning much respect in the league. There’s a long line of fans full of joy over that, wanting him to fail in any possible way.
However, not sure what else you’re crowing about. The media who said nobody wants to come to NY? There still isn’t a lot of shine on what is happening there to make them a prime destination for any big talent. Did Brooklyn fail? Absolutely, but they still likely get meetings with free agents before the Knicks do. If you’re so focused on that comparison, I don’t see how you look down on them like you do.
I don’t give Shush about Kyrie. I’m not a hater. I’m talking about the geniuses who think they know ball or NYK. Knicks are not an open book. You actually need to follow them closely to understand their woes. They deserve the criticism no doubt. But you should atleast know what you are critiquing.
raz you are uninformed as always. I’ve never pushed Randle. I’ve been pushing him out since the beginning of the yr. His time is up here. Thibs won’t survive the yr if he backs Randle this yr.
Kyrie doesn’t understand who he is. KD does. One knows he’s a baller and is going for the books. The other is enjoying his treasures and thinks it will last for ever. It’s really simple math. Who in their right mind would give this neurotic artist a 40 million dollar a yr payday.
Fact you think this about the Knicks or me. Only explains you two.
“Wasted Talent” ………. I’m always about Balling ……. learnt it
You’re never pushed Randle down our throats? Last year all you did was say how randle was amazing and even until the TD you kept giving us random meaningless facts about Randle. You like to toot your own horn about NYK but like to dish out criticism when certain posters don’t agree with your philosophy. You keep saying they’re rebuilding and will be fine, this is the New York Knicks we’re talking about. You know the one team that hasn’t won a title since Nixon was in office. You act like they have such a great history of winning it’s hilarious. You are the misinformed one because giving us meaningless stats and facts and then don’t remember how you were on Thibs’ jock strap last year is hilarious to me. I’m not a newbie here I remember how you were so confident even after their dreadful start and kept giving everyone false hope. Which is it? Are they rebuilding or retooling? Make up your mind and stick to it once and for all. Ffs.
Hey, If your not from NY, you don’t fully understand… AT MSG, New Yorkers want a competitive team… they will go to the Garden even if the Knicks are losing..which they were for 20yrs, give or take a yr with Carmelo… EVEN IN A REBUILD, THEY NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE… IT’s BOTH BABY, YOUR ON BROADWAY BABY, THEY GET TOP DOLLAR FOR SEATS, TOUGH D WILL KEEP THEM COMPETITIVE…WILL BE ACTIVE THIS SUMMER, EVEN IF IT’S GETTING RID OF FOURNIER, WALKER, RANDLE CONTRACTS… OR TRYING TO SHED SOME COMBO OF THE 3…. THEY NEED AN ACTIVE CENTER, SWITCH ON D, REBOUND, RIM RUN… They will be competitive, while being active shedding contracts, with the kids getting a chance exciting the GARDEN CROWD.. NEW YORKERS LOVE THEIR KNICKS….
Everyone wants all goals. There’s a lot of caps there, but what is your point?
All I got was New Yorkers love to be loud as much as they love their Knicks.
Kyrie, Westbrook are all useless…. Will take Lowry over them any day…. Lowry is pure winner and very underrated.
I would not call Drummond or Simmons high-character players. Nobody has, but the way that point was worded suggests a connection. Marks is probably looking for character because of those two and Irving, moves which now needs a ship correction.