Brooklyn Nets Star Guard Kyrie Irving Requests Trade

Brooklyn Nets star guard Kyrie Irving has requested a trade from the organization in hopes of being traded before the trade deadline.

There was some talk about a new deal for Irving, but no deal was reached and a trade request was submitted to the organization today, sources told ESPN. Irving can leave the franchise this summer as a free agent. https://t.co/vnNWbUW56S

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 3, 2023

This is coming straight out of left field. Irving and the Nets were working on a long-term deal, but those talks have yet to come to fruition.

Irving had previously been the subject of trade discussions at the start of the season, as the Nets were tired of offering the former NBA champion a lucrative long-term deal.

However, the two sides came to an agreement, and rather than buy Irving, Brooklyn decided to keep him in hopes of chasing a championship alongside Kevin Durant this season.

Irving’s decision to request a trade is just the latest in what has been yet another newsworthy year for Brooklyn. Durant requested a trade before free agency last summer, but later rescinded it, followed by the firing of the team’s head coach, Steve Nash, after a disastrous start to the season.

The Nets are currently 31-20, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference, but have been relegated in the standings with Durant sidelined with a knee injury. Irving is averaging 27.1 points and 5.3 assists in 40 games this season.

A multitude of teams will obviously be interested in the starbase. A team with LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers is always a possibility. Most teams would likely forgo a kings save for Irving. Even with Kevin Durant close to returning, Irving is looking elsewhere for opportunities.

If a trade doesn’t go through, it remains to be seen if Irving will play for the Nets again. The Brooklyn Nets currently have +1400 to win the NBA Finals according to New York sportsbooks. Losing Irving will make winning a championship even more difficult.