Kyrie Irving

I would rather light my franchise on fire than validate Kyrie Irving · The Brooklyn Nets star guard reaches new level of insufferable with trade demand · Does a ...

Kyrie is seriously a sideshow at this stage of his career, and this is as much performance art as that time Shai LeBeouf strolled the red carpet The Nets are 31-20 and currently occupy the fourth seed in the East. There’s no reason for them to make a trade other than the fact that they’re negotiating with someone who’s willing to destroy everything for ideals that no one, not even himself, can define. There’s one player in the history of the league that’s been able to corral Irving into seasons of productive basketball, and that’s LeBron James. Durant always chirps about how he just wants to hoop and ignore the chatter. When the news broke that [Irving demanded a trade from the Brooklyn Nets](https://deadspin.com/kyrie-irving-brooklyn-nets-trade-lakers-nba-durant-1850072128) on Friday, the question that followed “Can you fucking believe this guy?” was “Where is he going to end up?”

Reporting on Kyrie Irving's Nets trade rumors with the Lakers, Suns, Mavericks and Heat. Plus, Knicks and Jazz trade talks by Michael Scotto.

Vanderbilt and Beasley have also been discussed as part of a trade package with the Atlanta Hawks for forward John Collins. Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little is a name to monitor in the trade talks, HoopsHype has learned. Ironically, while Beasley was meeting with the Timberwolves and on the verge of agreeing to his contract, the current Knicks regime led by Leon Rose called to express interest in signing him, league sources told HoopsHype. In these particular trade talks, Toppin would potentially be that equivalent for Vanderbilt with Utah seeking a potential first-round pick for taking on Fournier’s [salary](https://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york_knicks/) ($18.86 million next season and $19 million team option for 2024-25) and parting with Beasley, who has a $16.5 million [team option](https://hoopshype.com/salaries/utah_jazz/) for next season. On the court, Irving is talented enough to dramatically increase Dallas’ chances of competing alongside MVP candidate Luka Doncic and be the clear No. Jazz executive Danny Ainge previously traded for Fournier while running the Celtics as well. Harris, a valued core member of Brooklyn’s culture dating back to the Kenny Atkinson era, is owed $19.93 million Brooklyn never saw Westbrook as a logical fit with Ben Simmons during trade talks in the summer, and that thinking wouldn’t change now. This sequence of events was no coincidence to some around the league. Nine days later, after failing to get the desired terms, Irving requested a trade from Brooklyn. Two days later, Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, went on the record with Bleacher Report expressing a desire to get an extension done with the Nets. It’s deja vu for the Nets.

Front office insider John Hollinger analyzes, and ranks, the nine possible trade partners for the Nets in a potential Kyrie trade.

[Lakers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/lakers/). [Khem Birch](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/khem-birch-XEXE5uvh2pS7ufKn/) and Otto Porter. to the Lakers for their 2029 first, and [Patrick Beverley](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/patrick-beverley-un2M7ixIUPcicY97/) going to the Nets. The Clippers are only 24th in offense despite having [Paul George](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/paul-george-kIIUTtsJtSpaZfu1/) and [Kawhi Leonard](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kawhi-leonard-ZVBR9DRffqJpzLHV/). [Fred VanVleet](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/fred-vanvleet-DJq74red8aTFXbfg/) does not make sense. [Trae Young](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/trae-young-pMqz7IIVkDhPCk6P/) for Kyrie? Far more sense than, say, trying to reunite [Russell Westbrook](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/russell-westbrook-6Eb0XPY16UzzJWbc/) and Durant. They would need to flip those assets to a team like Toronto to get a point guard, since the three players from the Clippers would be of only nominal value to them. Atlanta surely turns that down, but what if the Nets sweeten the pot by agreeing to swap [John Collins](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/john-collins-clt53Cta3GNiC4xs/) for [Joe Harris](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/joe-harris-QESU2aIXmpGRn50l/) and throwing in the Sixers’ pick? Sending Devonte’ Graham, [Jonas Valanciunas](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jonas-valanciunas-6YEYoGmoBlSfpHhs/), Jaxson Hayes and [Garrett Temple](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/garrett-temple-5c53TtCNO9BWk3sx/) puts just enough salary into the deal to match Irving, take back [Markieff Morris](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/markieff-morris-j4uvbWutmKDfJnLs/) and [Yuta Watanabe](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/yuta-watanabe-xZKhBlhbOvVWEXLh/), and stay under the luxury tax line. Remember, Toronto could potentially bleed an extra Nets draft pick (more likely the Philly ’27 choice) out of this situation to be the third team in the ring. Such a move would throw the Hawks a salary cap life raft, with Harris’ deal coming off right as the team has to pay [Dejounte Murray](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/dejounte-murray-tm3kUMS7SqPU8gXQ/).

Kyrie Irving has reportedly requested a trade from Brooklyn Nets ahead of Thursdays deadline I The 30-year-old guard will be an unrestricted free agent at ...

He was also the All-Star Game MVP in 2014. After he was the No 1 overall draft pick in 2011 out of Duke, Irving earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2012. Kyrie Irving has reportedly requested a trade from Brooklyn Nets ahead of Thursday's deadline I The 30-year-old guard will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season

The Eagles' linebacker also discusses his previous history of facing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

"I'm real familiar with them and it's always a great challenge going against a quarterback (in Patrick Mahomes) like that, but we have a pretty good defense, too," he said. "We know we're here for a reason, so we aren't going to put more added stress on each other. What is wrong with him?"