Kyrie Irving, Nets at an ‘impasse’ in contract talks, star expected to test market with Knicks, Lakers as suitors: Report

Is it possible Kyrie Irving will take his talents outside of Brooklyn?

According to a report from The Athletic, it appears so.

Shams Charania Tweeted a story entitled, “Kyrie Irving, Nets are at impasse in conversations about his future in Brooklyn, clearing way for the seven-time All-Star to consider the open market. Lakers and Knicks expected to emerge among potential suitors.”

The Daily News, citing “a source familiar with the Nets’ thought process,” reported last month that the Nets were “outright unwilling to give [Irving] a long-term extension.”

Nets GM Sean Marks said in May he was non-committal on a contract extension for Irving, the West Orange native and former St. Patrick High School star who played just 29 games this past season after refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We need people here that want to be here. … We’re looking for guys that want to come in here and be something bigger than themselves, play selfless, play team basketball, and be available,” Marks said. “And that goes not only for Kyrie but for everybody here.”

He added that the team has to consider a player’s motivations before signing him to a long term deal.

“Do they want to be part of this?” he asked. “Are they motivated by something that’s not good for the whole team? Those are questions we have to ask.”

Irving has a player option worth $36.9 million for the 2022-23 season that he could decline. He could then sign with the Nets for up to five years and $247.6 million, per hoopshype.com. He could also decline his player option and avoid free agency by extending with the Nets for up to four years and $191.3 million.

The Nets could potentially sign Irving to an extension and do a sign-and-trade with the Lakers or Knicks, or someone else.

The Nets could also structure Irving’s contract to incentivize him to play more games, as the Daily News reported.

Marks met last month at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago with Lakers executive Rob Pelinka, although it’s unclear what was discussed.

They could have broached trade talk. The Lakers have their own disgruntled superstar in Russell Westbrook, who has a player option for $47 million next season.

LeBron James, who teamed with Irving to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA championship in 2016, has one more year on his contract with the Lakers at $44.5 million in 2022-23 and would then be a free agent.

He has said he wants to play with his son, Bronny James, who isn’t eligible to play in the NBA until 2024. LeBron will turn 40 during the 2024-25 season, his record-tying 22nd in the NBA.

The Knicks, meantime, are constantly in search of a star point guard and Irving would certainly fit that bill. They have cycled through one floor general after another for seemingly decades.

Should the Nets part ways with Irving, or should he leave, it could have a snowball effect on his good friend Kevin Durant, who might decide he wants to play somewhere else if both Irving and James Harden are both gone.

Durant signed a four-year, $198-million extension with Brooklyn after both he and Irving signed with the Nets in free agency in the summer of 2019.

“In terms of my extension, man, I don’t really plan on going anywhere,” Irving said after the Nets were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs. “So this is just added motivation for our franchise to be at the top of the league for the next few years.”

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.

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