Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving's request for a trade – and his move from Brooklyn to Dallas – got moves started with a bang before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

Will the Jazz continue selling to accelerate their rebuild? That won't be the only major deal. The Mavs reached a deal to acquire Irving, who has three Finals appearances, a championship, eight All-Star appearances and is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season.

LeBron James wanted to be reunited with Kyrie Irving, but the NBA's soon-to-be all-time leading scorer has been a lousy general manager for the Lakers.

Is there a chance this summer that he demands to be traded? The Lakers made the right move. There will be an appropriate and deserved celebration this week at Crypto.com Arena when James breaks Abdul-Jabbar’s record. James clearly believes it was the wrong move. The guy costs his most recent team numerous games by refusing a COVID vaccine. The guy burns every place he has been with trade demands and sudden departures. — ‘duh’ question when you talk about a player like that.” [LeBron James](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2022-11-14/75-greatest-lakers-players-lebron-james-place-in-history)’ pursuit of [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-24-sp-1593-story.html) for the all-time scoring record. And, oh yeah, the guy was suspended this season for promoting a movie containing antisemitic themes. [The tweet](https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1622394143912919041) appeared within hours of the news that the [Lakers](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers) had not been able to pull off a trade for [Kyrie Irving](https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-02-05/nets-mavericks-trade-kyrie-irving-spencer-dinwiddie-dorian-finney-smith). As the creator of a trio that makes $150 million and is in 13th place, James no longer has any right to demand that the Lakers sacrifice even more of their tattered future for the sake of a few more wins now. [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2022-11-14/75-greatest-lakers-players-kobe-bryant-magic-johnson-kareem), off the court James is unfortunately also approaching the record for being a Lakers all-time pain.

Now, just days after requesting a trade from the Nets due to what he viewed as an untenable contract situation, he's off to Dallas to play with one of the ...

In theory, Durant, Simmons and the roster of role players they've assembled should be more than enough to be competitive, but what we have seen from Simmons this season makes it hard to view him as anything but an albatross contract. The Nets just traded their second-best player, who happens to be close friends with their best player, for a package of largely win-now assets. The Rockets share a division with the Mavericks. The two complement each other well on the court, with Irving's ability to shoot from the perimeter as well as being one of the greatest shot-creators the game has seen. [NBA](/nba/). Now, just days after requesting a trade from the Nets due to what he viewed as an untenable contract situation, he's off to Dallas to play with one of the game's transcendent superstars in Luka Doncic. Given that the entire league probably had an inkling that Irving wouldn't play another game with the Nets, Sean Marks and the front office ended up with a solid haul. [Brooklyn Nets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BKN/brooklyn-nets/) traded [Kyrie Irving](/nba/players/1779901/kyrie-irving/) just days after he requested that the organization find him a new home. Now Durant has a crucial decision about whether he wants to stick with the Nets or renew his trade request from last offseason. That keeps the Nets, with a healthy Durant, at least relevant in the Eastern Conference hierarchy, while the draft assets allow them to build toward the future and/or flip them for another star. He's likely going to receive the financial assurance he failed to get from Brooklyn. Here's a look at the specifics of the trade, along with some winners and losers.

LA Lakers star LeBron James posted a cryptic message on social media after news broke that Kyrie Irving would be moving from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas ...

But any hopes NBA fans had of an exciting Irving-James reunion are over after the Nets traded the star player to the Dallas Mavericks instead. [NBA](https://www.irishmirror.ie/all-about/nba) world when he requested a blockbuster trade after failing to agree a contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets. Irving spent three seasons with James at the Cleveland Cavaliers and won his only NBA title alongside the superstar veteran in 2016.

LA Lakers star LeBron James posted a cryptic message on social media after news broke that Kyrie Irving would be moving from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas ...

James, meanwhile, has edged closer to creating history and breaking the NBA career scoring record. [NBA](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/nba) world when he requested a blockbuster trade after failing to agree a contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets. But any hopes NBA fans had of an exciting Irving-James reunion are over after the Nets traded the star player to the Dallas Mavericks instead.

Dallas's efforts to surround Luka Dončić with a co-star have failed in recent years. Will the pairing with Irving pay off?

Are the Nets no longer a threat to the Celtics in the East after Kyrie Irving's departure, or does Boston still need to bolster its roster to feel better ...

The Celtics have to be aggressive examining potential moves. What happens when Doncic doesn’t have the ball in his hands as much throughout games? The Mavericks will have no problem scoring the basketball but there will be only one basketball. Maybe the Mavericks had no other choice. The Celtics have a $5.9 million traded player exception that could help deliver talent without necessarily having to fully match salaries. The hard part will be finding a deal that acquires an impact player given the team’s somewhat limited resources to work with. But there’s a championship-sized opportunity here and adding another player with potential to play in a postseason rotation could go a long way towards helping Boston achieve its loftiest goals. But even while playing alongside a star talent like Luka Doncic, the Mavericks struggled to stay above the play-in line in the weaker West. The 76ers sit 2.5 games back and visit TD Garden on Wednesday night. A healthy Durant is still one of the NBA’s elite but Ben Simmons hasn’t consistently tapped into his full abilities. Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith are solid players who shouldn't rock the boat. Here’s the thing: No matter how many headaches Irving caused with his various antics, you always worried about the Nets’ overall potential if he ever behaved.

Irving, 30, joins MVP candidate Luka Dončić in Dallas, where they'll form the league's most ball-dominant backcourt.

When asked on Saturday if Irving could turn the Lakers into title contenders, James said, " [That's a duh question](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-says-its-obvious-kyrie-irving-could-turn-lakers-into-a-title-contender-thats-a-duh-question/)." That is, unless Durant demands they trade him, too ( [MVP candidate Luka Dončić](https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-feb-3-2023-edition) in Dallas, where they'll form the league's most ball-dominant backcourt. They ended up with the Wild stat: Irving and Kevin Durant signed with the Nets in the summer of 2019. If Brooklyn didn't make a deal, they risked losing him for nothing in free agency.

Brooklyn chose the Mavericks' package to remain competitive this season.

[Phoenix Suns](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/PHO/phoenix-suns/), a team that has taken a considerable skid after [Devin Booker](/nba/players/2152529/devin-booker/) went down with a groin injury, they wanted to upgrade their point guard position with [Chris Paul](/nba/players/555969/chris-paul/) feeling the effects of Father Time. The Suns offered the Nets a package around Paul, [Jae Crowder](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jae-crowder-0vLcUgtCxJK833Re/) and one first-round pick, but Charania reports that Brooklyn would've wanted three first-round picks in total. The team reportedly offered the Nets a package that included both their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, [according to Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes](https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1622416002922450945), in addition to [Russell Westbrook](/nba/players/1622555/russell-westbrook/), per The Athletic's Shams Charania. The Clippers needed another contract to add to that deal in order for it to work financially, but nothing ever came of it. But the Nets informed the Lakers that it would take including both [Austin Reaves](/nba/players/2268681/austin-reaves/) and [Max Christie](/nba/players/26776121/max-christie/), in addition to pick swaps on top of their original deal, to land Irving. [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/DAL/dallas-mavericks/) sent shockwaves around the league when they [traded for Kyrie Irving](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kyrie-irving-trade-mavericks-land-nets-all-star-for-spencer-dinwiddie-dorian-finney-smith-first-round-pick/) Sunday afternoon.

The Athletic will have plenty of coverage breaking down what the deal means for the Mavericks and Nets. Here, we have assembled a group of writers to predict ...

[Al Horford](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/al-horford-1bdxkLwov50QIyiQ/) and [Robert Williams](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/robert-williams-LEhMNrHYNoFDLqTs/). [Seth Curry](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/seth-curry-g515ypMRd3oGYaB6/) and [Joe Harris](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/joe-harris-QESU2aIXmpGRn50l/) along with, as you said, their recently acquired picks to upgrade the roster. This is a team that can survive and probably win a round in their current state because of Durant’s greatness but the trouble is going to be in round two and beyond, unless the Nets redirect that pick or Finney-Smith somewhere else to get a strong supporting star alongside Durant. 1 — the Jacque Vaughn era — the Nets are plus-nine-points-per-100-possessions when Durant is on the floor and Irving is off (thanks, Cleaning the Glass). With Durant, Finney-Smith, [Ben Simmons](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/ben-simmons-xfSMIwcIYOvLWzUw/) and [Nic Claxton](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/nic-claxton-47D5hSormvUQWaZj/), the Nets should have one of the league’s best defensive frontcourts. The Boston Celtics have beaten the Nets 10 straight games and the [Philadelphia 76ers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/sixers/) have the edge this season as well. Would the [Toronto Raptors](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/raptors/) be another, Eric? The position in question for Cleveland has been the wing and to see if there is anyone available who is a true upgrade at that spot. The dominoes from the Irving trade could spur more activity around the league, but the Celtics like what they have around [Jayson Tatum](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jayson-tatum-3O7MInr4zV5KKhZ5/) and [Jaylen Brown](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jaylen-brown-EAiBkBxmqCrObLg7/). As for the Raptors, this season has to have had a cooling impact on their interest in Durant. [Celtics](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/celtics/) beat writer: Wow. After a slow start, the Nets had looked like a contender recently whenever [Kevin Durant](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kevin-durant-ho6h1sijyi2PAURU/) was healthy.

The Dallas Mavericks made the blockbuster move to secure the extremely talented point guard on Sunday pairing him with superstar Luka Doncic, who reportedly ...

He said: "The Mavericks also ran the deal for Irving past All-NBA star Luka Doncic, who gave it a nod. The deal was reported on Sunday evening after Irving had requested a trade away from the Nets earlier in the week. The Nets received Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round draft pick and a second-round pick.

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have a number of questions to answer to reach their full potential as a duo.

With Irving, Doncic and Wood on the same team, the Mavericks are probably going to have to run up the scoreboard to compete with the best of the best. [Here](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/best-players-available-2023-nba-free-agency-list/h6zhedelmmhp0bqzwrxu4gpg) are some of the notable players who will be free agents in the offseason. [could create over $30 million in cap space](https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1622609275926327296). [per NBA insider Marc Stein](https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1622407277352214530). On court, Irving and Doncic have the potential to be nearly unstoppable offensively, but the Mavericks could run into some issues with the two of them defensively. In four and a half seasons with the Nets, Irving played in 143 of a possible 278 regular-season games. Irving will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Irving has proven that he can thrive alongside a player like Doncic, and him still being in his prime means Doncic won't have to do as much of the heavy lifting. [LeBron's instant reaction](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/lebron-james-twitter-kyrie-irving-trade-maybe-its-me/lgogvw0vadqd2tvxon84v9op) [Full trade details](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/kyrie-irving-trade-details-nets-mavericks-blockbuster/y4ifob5gplufixvjkywrfbkj) That's based on a relatively small sample size of 40 games, but he posted equally absurd splits [in 2020-21](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/202681/shots-dash?Season=2020-21) when he joined the exclusive 50-40-90 club and made the All-NBA Third Team. He's at his best when he has the ball in his hands, but he has experience playing next to other ball-dominant stars such as LeBron James, James Harden and Kevin Durant.

Kyrie Irving will join forces with Luka Doncic in what is considered as the trade of the NBA season. The Dallas Mavericks sit sixth in the Western ...

It's just releasing the ball, it's easy basketball because there's a lot of space and you just have to get the best shot you can," Doncic even stated. It has to be noted that Irving thrived when he had another scorer on his side in LeBron James. From now on, Dallas will have two creators on the court. "The double teams? Meanwhile, Doncic will be freed from double-teams on many occasions. Dallas traded two capable squad players Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie for Irving.

The NBA's conspiracy theorist-in-chief has forced his way off another team after they (and pal Kevin Durant) stood by him through a ton of nonsense.

He went to Jewish community centers, gave talks at his alma mater, had a child, tried to stay in shape and huddled near the phone, hoping a team would reach out. Kyrie is one of the best, so he gets to be a huge pain in the ass, over and over until there’s not even a remote possibility that he can access that level of transcendence on the court. And now KD and the Nets are left to pick up the pieces. In the second year, though, he refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19, for reasons that A while after he requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics, [he called LeBron](https://www.nba.com/news/kyrie-irving-called-lebron-james-apologize) and apologized for how it all went down, saying that he now understood the burden of leadership. And then the season started, he donned the uniform and he was good at basketball, so everyone threw up their hands and admitted that you couldn’t really know anything about this guy. Kyrie tells people he wants to be a Boston Celtic for life, then he almost immediately leaves the team in free agency and signs with the Brooklyn Nets. In Brooklyn, he began to really lose the plot. Now, this is the part where I write about the good things that Kyrie has done on account of his natural inclination for being a pain in the ass. Former President Obama, bored at home and thirsting for NBA action, had to personally intervene to get the bubble back on track. He was a shit-hot boy from the Balkans and the world was his oyster. The main way to make that happen is to replace some of these role players with basketball wizards, the kind of guy who can make the magic while Luka rests, or is having an off night, or when the other team is having an on night.

The Sixers went 2-2 this week, including blowing 21-point first-half leads in losses to the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks.

When the topic surfaced again in the locker room in San Antonio, Maxey revealed Whataburger had been his dinner of choice the previous night. Harden, who is from Los Angeles but spent parts of nine seasons playing in Houston, said he prefers In-N-Out but does not “crave” it like other California folks. Just being around this organization absolutely changed me and the way I saw some things basketball-wise, so I will be forever indebted to that.” That experience helped spark Rivers’ interest in coaching, before the Orlando Magic hired him as head coach in 1999. The Sixers coach was being recognized as part of the Spurs’ 50th anniversary celebration. “They really talked me into coming,” Rivers said. Coincidentally, Sunday was the Sixers’ second consecutive trip to The Garden when significant news broke. I can almost guarantee you we’ll make that step.” We’ll make that step. They went 2-2 during the past week, also surrendering a big advantage in a loss to the lowly-yet-pesky Orlando Magic on Monday night. … When things aren’t going well or someone is not getting shots, you just keep hanging in there and pulling for each other and you figure it out. When asked what his team was not able to sustain or recapture following their exceptional start, Harden responded with “everything.”

Matt Moore of Action Network saw an uncanny similarity between Kyrie Irving's Dallas Mavericks situation and another Boston Celtics point guard's.

The signs point to an ending in Dallas similar to the ending of Irving’s time in Boston and Brooklyn: ringless. to reshuffle the deck in the offseason. With Dallas trading two valuable contributors in Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Nets for Irving, the Mavericks are not a deep team.

A discussion seemingly about Kyrie Irving's trade to Dallas sunk into an exchange of personal attacks between Stephen A. Smith and Jay Williams.

Williams said Smith seemed "triggered," which led to a tense exchange that ended with moderator Molly Qerim interjecting. Irving made three consecutive trips to the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers but wanted out and was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2017. During the same podcast, Irving [also expressed his belief](https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/08/23/this-what-kyrie-irving-said-about-earth-being-flat/v7sNKtYS3SS1QX7s4S4ZaM/story.html) that former President John F. His promotion of an antisemitic film and refusal to immediately apologize resulted in a suspension earlier this season. Prior to his trade Sunday, Irving played 143 of a possible 278 games over three seasons in Brooklyn. Smith and Jay Williams appeared to get personal during ESPN's "First Take" program.

Luka has consistently made guards around him look great on offense; the questions for Dallas will come on the other end.

[Jae Crowder](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jae-crowder-0vLcUgtCxJK833Re/) at the four could work, but would [Phoenix](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/suns/) really help a team it would be competing against in the playoffs? Maybe the team could get involved in some sort of three-team trade with the Clippers and end up with [Robert Covington](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/robert-covington-u9E829AVwz1EFYDu/)? Another option would be to try to get [Isaiah Hartenstein](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/isaiah-hartenstein-hjMEcIELScZcAVNC/), the backup [Knicks](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/knicks/) center who had a tremendous season for the [LA Clippers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/clippers/) last season but hasn’t been a fit for New York. [Nikola Jokić](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/nikola-jokic-bCjsyLGuQMrMSWNr/) and Denver expecting that [Dwight Powell](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/dwight-powell-BhTxjrEIUSrtsBS0/), Kleber and Wood will get the job done. [Jarred Vanderbilt](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jarred-vanderbilt-PmTxzdRpyfGBRjkU/) would be killer for the Mavs, but is the team really going to move one of its two remaining first-round picks for him when it could maintain them into the offseason? [Jakob Poeltl](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jakob-poeltl-wzkpB8YKmxhyMN2h/) would be a perfect fit, but he’s going to be cost-prohibitive. [NBA](https://theathletic.com/nba/) — and is a top-10 scorer in the NBA in terms of points per touch. [positive players per EPM](https://dunksandthrees.com/epm?season=2023): it’s [Alex Caruso](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/alex-caruso-CvhS8hRgdDIq3u6T/), [Josh Hart](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/josh-hart-JL2KNArJke7GTrEU/), [Delon Wright](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/delon-wright-Gg1s5CSMSSrLhffm/), [Kenrich Williams](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kenrich-williams-P9wPLMSq17EIIGuy/), [Josh Green](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/josh-green-tWFX9pjqC1g3ojtN/) and Finney-Smith. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/lakers/) and [Rui Hachimura](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/rui-hachimura-qzSY3bocNkNzQ2KH/), we have our first significant trade of the 2022-23 NBA season. [Reggie Bullock](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/reggie-bullock-ikD8UAkJCkf8mvyF/) started the season roughly, but he’s been better on both ends recently. In 2014-15 with the [Cavaliers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/cavaliers/), James and Irving actually had the same amount of time of possession per game at 6.5 minutes, and they had nearly the same touches. [Dallas](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/mavericks/) moved a quality starting guard and its best on-ball defensive wing to get the deal done.

Adding Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant hasn't led to a conference finals berth, much less a championship. After meeting Irving's trade request, the Nets are ...

[asked for a trade in June](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/sports/basketball/kevin-durant-trade-demand-nets.html) and was given permission to seek one, but couldn’t find one to which the Nets would agree. [some irony](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/sports/basketball/nets-disastrous-deal-with-the-celtics-keeps-getting-worse.html) to the Nets’ being eliminated by the Celtics. The [Boston Celtics swept the Nets](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/sports/basketball/nets-eliminated-celtics-sweep.html) out of the first round of the 2022 playoffs. In 2013, the Nets gave up five players, three first-round picks and the option to swap another first-round pick for four players, including [Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/29/sports/the-nets-go-big-bold-and-old.html). It’s possible that once he’s healthy he will lead the Nets to a strong finish this season. They gave up a king’s ransom to do it: The package included three first-round picks, four pick swaps and Jarrett Allen, a talented young center who has found success, including an All-Star selection, in Cleveland. And so, for the past three and a half years, the Nets firmly set their sights on a championship that, they believed, the arrivals of Irving and Durant had put within reach. In return, the Nets will receive two players, a distant first-round draft pick and multiple second-round picks. “I’m consistently in the lineup, that helps,” Irving said. Having superstar talent is the only surefire way to win a championship in the N.B.A. They were winning games, Irving seemed to be in a good place, and even Durant’s knee injury, while detrimental, wasn’t catastrophic. After meeting Irving’s trade request, the Nets are once again in a state of uncertainty.

The NBA guard can search for the Earth's edge in Big Bend and bone up on JFK conspiracy theories when he's not getting buckets in Dallas.

In any case, Irving is coming to Texas regardless of what we have to say about it. Is it Kinky Friedman’s job to help Irving overcome the prejudices he seems to have acquired? But Irving’s endorsement of antisemitic conspiracy theories is more troubling: anyone with a platform the size of Irving’s who spreads those ideas puts Jewish people in danger, and the threat of antisemitic violence is real, as folks in North Texas learned If the Earth is flat, it has to end somewhere, and [the stunning landscapes of Big Bend](https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/nature/ecosystems.htm) surely look like they’ve got something to hide. The NBA off-season is short, but if Irving applies himself, we’re sure he can do some digging (but not actual digging, because disturbing the park’s natural features is [illegal](https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/bc_regulations.htm)). One thing we do know is that if Irving wants to get to the bottom of things, then Dallas is the place to be. [Big Bend National Park](https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/big-bend-national-park-texas-crowds-popular-reservations/), nestled between Terlingua and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. [reports](https://www.nba.com/news/nets-kyrie-irving-trade-dallas-mavericks) of a trade that would send All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks. [argued](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10064370-kyrie-irving-rumors-mavs-think-their-culture-environment-will-be-ideal-fit-for-pg) that the team’s “culture and environment” will assist Irving in thriving on and off the court. The Earth is flat. He’s prone to embracing conspiracy theories, he seems to believe that whatever he sees on YouTube or Instagram is the gospel truth, and he has some, er, curious ideas about everything from [COVID-19 vaccines](https://thehill.com/homenews/3652458-nets-star-kyrie-irving-says-vaccine-mandates-one-the-biggest-violations-of-human-rights-in-history/) to the shape of the [Earth](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/movies/kyrie-irving-nba-celtics-earth.html) to—well, to whether a Hitler-referencing [film](https://www.nytimes.com/article/kyrie-irving-antisemitic.html) called Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America is an accurate history of the Jewish people. One of the more quaint conspiracy theories Irving has embraced involves the Kennedy assassination.

Dallas' bold move to acquire star guard Kyrie Irving did more than slash the Mavericks' NBA title odds in half. It completed a 72-hour of whirlwind action ...

The Los Angeles Lakers are desperate. Everybody knows it, and no one is about to bail them out.

Based on LeBron James' tweet following the trade of Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks, The King wears a heavy crown.

The Lakers were pegged as a [possible trade destination for Irving](https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/lebron-james-emoji-tweet-kyrie-irving-trade-rumors-fan-reactions), but it was not meant to be. He's won four championships, four NBA MVP honors and jockeys back-and-forth with Michael Jordan for G.O.A.T. People can only feel so sorry for James, who is one of the most decorated and lauded professional athletes of all time.

Rarely does a franchise lose a generational talent like Kyrie Irving and get better. But could that be the case for Brooklyn?

[John Collins](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/dayron-sharpe-playerhttps://www.foxsports.com/nba/john-collins-player)? [2023 NBA trade grades: How did Mavericks, Nets do in Kyrie Irving deal?](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2023-nba-trade-deadline-grades) [Mavericks, Mark Cuban gamble big with Kyrie Irving trade](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/mavericks-mark-cuban-gamble-big-with-kyrie-irving-trade) [When will LeBron pass Kareem? Follow him on Twitter [@YaronWeitzman](https://twitter.com/YaronWeitzman). [Cam Thomas](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/cameron-thomas-player) and/or [Day’Ron Sharpe](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/dayron-sharpe-player), though, and they might have something. [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers-team), and see if they can find another upgrade. Maybe they’ll see if someone is interested in [Ben Simmons](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/ben-simmons-player), though that’s doubtful. [Brooklyn Nets’](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/brooklyn-nets-team) basketball staff gathered in the team’s training center. Could that be enough to get one of the [Toronto Raptors’](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/toronto-raptors-team) veterans? More notable, though, was the Nets’ ability to pry away from the Mavs an unprotected 2029 first-round pick (which just so happens to be two years after [Luka Dončić's](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/luka-doncic-player) current contract expires). ["glaring"](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28493556/kyrie-irving-says-team-needs-glaring-nets-fall-76ers) need to add more talent. He was a few months from free agency and, in his eyes, the Nets’ refusal to gift him a four-year, max extension was a reason to go now. Or the time he promoted an antisemitic film on his social media accounts and then, in an even more galling display, not only refused to apologize but also repeatedly defended the action.

Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis, second from left, attempts to block Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas, during the second half of an NBA ...

The Irving trade was a big one, but what’s bigger is what Marks does next because that will have a dramatic impact on the franchise’s future. And that includes using the draft picks acquired in the trade with Dallas or potentially trading Spencer Dinwiddie or Dorian Finney-Smith. The vultures have already started to circle, with the Phoenix Suns already putting it out there that they would be ready to make a move for Irving if he becomes available. There are still three days until the NBA trade deadline, but Brooklyn would likely be inclined to trade Durant over the summer if it got to that point with their franchise cornerstone rather than trying to trade him before the 3 p.m. He did request a trade out of Brooklyn over the summer after tiring of some of the things going on with the organization and concerns about its direction. However, the looming questions remain regarding Kevin Durant’s future with the Nets and what general manager Sean Marks will do in the short and long for the franchise.

LeBron James admitted he's "definitely disappointed" the Los Angeles Lakers were unable to land Kyrie Irving ahead of the NBA trade deadline. With Irving.

Russell Westbrook has been dealt multiple times across his career and served as a lightning rod for criticism from the moment he arrived ahead of last season. LeBron sat down with @RealMikeWilbon to share his thoughts on the Lakers not being able to trade for his former teammate Kyrie Irving:

"I can't sit here and say I'm not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent." But it wasn't as simple as James rallying together with Los Angeles' young core and making a push for the postseason.

With Kyrie Irving shipped off to Dallas, the Brooklyn Nets have reportedly been contacted by the Boston Celtics about a potential Kevin Durant-Jaylen Brown ...

Boston currently has the best record in the NBA at 37-16. Nets star is 'on the verge of potentially being moved' and the Celtics are offering All-Star Jaylen Brown, according to ESPN's Stephen A. Brown remains questionable for Monday's game against the Detroit Pistons. I love the guys we got.' Marks acquiesced, sending Irving to the Mavericks for a 2029 first-round pick, point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Is Kevin Durant following Kyrie Irving out the door in Brooklyn?

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill reacts to the blockbuster move - as Brooklyn sends the point guard to Dallas in a trade that could shake up ...

Right on cue. The Boston Celtics have found their name being dragged back into the NBA rumor mill with just 3 days to go until the February 9 trade deadline ...

Alas, this is all part and parcel of the trade deadline, and for most of us, the excitement is what makes this part of the NBA’s schedule so interesting. However you choose to process these rumors, it’s worth remembering that when there’s this much smoke, there’s usually some form of fire, be it an ember or a raging inferno. It’s unclear if the Celtics are still interested in pursuing Durant now that they have the best record in the league and great chemistry,” Gozlan wrote. Or simply brush it off as another rumor that will amount to nothing more than a discourse on social media. Smith threw some gas onto the fire, and now, Durant’s name is no longer being discussed with hushed voices in some dark corners of Celtics fandom — it’s front and center. Classify it as front office posturing to try and drive more teams to the negotiating table.

The 2023 NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching. Teams now have three days to finalize their remaining business before the trade market is closed for the ...

[Jordan Clarkson](/nba/players/2135523/jordan-clarkson/) and [Mike Conley](/nba/players/1231861/mike-conley/), whom just about everyone expected to be on new teams by this point. [Wizards](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/WAS/washington-wizards/) want to keep Beal, Kuzma Beal seems content in D.C., however, and the Wizards have no interest in trading him, [according to The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4158560/2023/02/06/wizards-trade-deadline-intel/). In addition to his importance on the floor, they see Conley as a vital part of the locker room, and the point guard and his family are happy in Salt Lake City. [Jazz](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/UTA/utah-jazz/) have turned down offers for Conley [Heat](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIA/miami-heat/) open to moving Lowry [according to Bobby Marks](https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/1622605334400344066). [Kyle Lowry](/nba/players/1113164/kyle-lowry/), who has been hampered by a knee problem and struggled when he has been on the floor. For all the talent on the roster, they have not been able to put things together, and with more than half of the season now gone they are still stuck under .500 at 25-27 -- a mark that has them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. [Kyrie Irving](/nba/players/1779901/kyrie-irving/) to the Mavericks on Sunday, there are all sorts of questions about where they go from here. [Stein added](https://twitter.com/thesteinline/status/1622712198249283603?s=46&t=MilULIHXBS-NwSSVllChcw) that the Nets were interested in Toronto's [Pascal Siakam](/nba/players/2157611/pascal-siakam/) as well, but that one was always unlikely. Given the fact that he isn't playing much, the Sixers wouldn't be opposed to moving Korkmaz, but it's fair to wonder what they could get in return for the forward given the fact that his trade value isn't very high.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

[posted a link to a documentary on Twitter that contained anti-Semitic messages](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29/sport/kyrie-irving-nets-antisemitic-documentary/index.html). Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai [said he was “disappointed” in Irving’s actions at the time.](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29/sport/kyrie-irving-nets-antisemitic-documentary/index.html) Irving will play alongside four-time NBA All-Star Luka Doncic with the Mavericks. The Nets also reportedly sent [Markieff Morris to Dallas](https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/10/sport/nikola-jokic-markieff-morris-nba-spt-intl/index.html) in the trade. [Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving ](https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/04/sport/kyrie-irving-trade-brooklyn-nets-spt-intl/index.html)was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, according to [The Athletic’s Shams Charania](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1622324668047794177) and [ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.](https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1622325104351842307)

The deal became official Monday afternoon and came after more than a week of speculation about Irving as the NBA trade deadline looms on Thursday. Irving, 6-2, ...

For the past three years, Irving has teamed with Kevin Durant and, until this season, James Harden but the Nets were unable to make a serious run at an NBA championship. To be a center piece or a couple of pieces that are part of a package for a superstar, (it’s a comment on) your reputation, your body of work. Be ready to play whenever you’re number is called and for whatever team your number is called. And he always covers the opponent’s best offensive player. The Mavericks now have two of the top five players across the NBA this season in isolation points per possession, with Dončić (1.16 points/possession) also cracking the top five. “Being traded last year for the unicorn (Porzingis), that’s a max guy,” Dinwiddie said. Irving, 6-2, will join Luka as a starter at the All-Star Game later this month. They aren’t giving up any stars, although both Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith were key members of the franchise who contributed mightily to their charge to the Western Conference finals last season. Among 40 players using two-or-more isolation possessions/game, Irving’s 1.28 points/possession lead the NBA and are the highest for any player (min. From a purely basketball standpoint, it’s a no-brainer for the Mavericks. Interestingly, he’s averaging 5.3 assists this season, exactly the same number as Dinwiddie has averaged. Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and several future draft picks were jettisoned to the Brooklyn Nets to get the 30-year-old Irving.

The Dallas Mavericks trade with the Brooklyn Nets for star guard Kyrie Irving was made official on Monday.

He wants to win any game of the week, that's why he loves to play, that's why he wants to play 82 games. It was part of the massive fallout from Irving posting a link to an antisemitic film on his Twitter account. "I will forever be grateful I got to live out my dream I had as a Kid with y'all. 2 scorer in [Christian Wood](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3058254/christian-wood) in the offseason, they haven't been able to win without Doncic this season. That was one of many drama-filled sagas that marked Irving's time with the Nets. He is expected to return just prior to or after the mid-February All-Star break. [Jalen Brunson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3934672/jalen-brunson) was crucial to Dallas' playoff run alongside Doncic last season but decided he wanted his own starting role as a point guard and left for the [New York Knicks](/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks) in free agency. "At the end of the day, Kevin wants to win," Vaughn said. A year ago, the Mavericks were right around .500 when their surge started just as the calendar turned to 2022. He wasn't with the Mavs at the start of a five-game trip out West after bruising his right heel in the final home game before the trip. Dallas is in a group of nine teams that started the day within one loss of each other. He was ruled out of the second game on the trip at Utah on Monday night.

In the blockbuster deal for the eight-time All-Star, Dallas also received forward Markieff Morris from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for guard Spencer Dinwiddie ...

If everything works out, there’s a path for Irving to stay in Dallas long term, but given his history on and off the court, that’s a big if. With Irving gone, the Mavericks could potentially free up more than $25 million in cap space thanks to several expiring contracts, including those of Markieff Morris, Frank Ntilikina, Theo Pinson and Dwight Powell. Irving is in the final year of a four-year, $136.49 million contract that he signed with the Nets in the summer of 2019. However, he is eligible for a five-year, $272.92 million maximum contract if he re-signs with the Mavericks. He’ll walk, and the Mavericks will return to square one. Currently, the Mavericks could offer Irving a two-year, $86.24 million extension, which is well below his market value—even considering his health and off-court issues.

The trade that sent the All-Star guard from the Brooklyn Nets to Dallas was finalized by the NBA on Monday, with the Mavs welcoming Irving on social media.

"Thank you NetsWorld fans and supporters for the Love on and off the court. That included a [cryptic tweet from LeBron James](/news/sports/lebron-james-posts-cryptic-tweet-after-kyrie-irving-trade/), whose Lakers had also reportedly made an offer for Irving in a three-team trade that included the Phoenix Suns and Chris Paul. Irving spent three-plus tumultuous seasons in Brooklyn. His first home game is scheduled to be on Feb. A 2 on the Mavericks, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT.

Jason Kidd brushed aside questions about Kyrie Irving's past controversies and future with the team, deciding instead to focus on his belief that the ...

and center/power forward [Christian Wood](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3058254/christian-wood), sources told ESPN. "Some nights, you're going to have to use the offense as your defense, but Kai's going to compete on the defensive end. Luka's going to compete on the defensive end. The trade wasn't made to help a Dallas defense that has slipped from seventh last season to 24th in efficiency. [Markieff Morris](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6461/markieff-morris) on Sunday, two days after Irving requested a trade from the [Brooklyn Nets](/nba/team/_/name/bkn/brooklyn-nets) in the wake of fizzled contract extension discussions. He's an eight-time All-Star who has earned a reputation as one of the league's most brilliant offensive creators during his career with the [Cleveland Cavaliers](/nba/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers), [Boston Celtics](/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics) and Nets, averaging 23.3 points and 5.7 assists per game in 12 NBA seasons. Doncic will join the team in Los Angeles on Wednesday, but he is still recovering from a right heel contusion suffered last week and will not play against the Clippers. It's going to be fun to watch." Someone is going to have the advantage." Dallas will dare teams to double-team Doncic when he shares the floor with Irving, who is averaging 27.1 points and 5.3 assists per game this season. We feel that getting him is going to help put us in a position to win a championship." "We feel that the talent and his abilities to make us better are something that we needed.

The 2023 NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching. Teams now have three days to finalize their remaining business before the trade market is closed for the ...

[Jordan Clarkson](/nba/players/2135523/jordan-clarkson/) and [Mike Conley](/nba/players/1231861/mike-conley/), whom just about everyone expected to be on new teams by this point. [Wizards](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/WAS/washington-wizards/) want to keep Beal, Kuzma Beal seems content in D.C., however, and the Wizards have no interest in trading him, [according to The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4158560/2023/02/06/wizards-trade-deadline-intel/). In addition to his importance on the floor, they see Conley as a vital part of the locker room, and the point guard and his family are happy in Salt Lake City. [Jazz](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/UTA/utah-jazz/) have turned down offers for Conley [Heat](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIA/miami-heat/) open to moving Lowry [according to Bobby Marks](https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/1622605334400344066). [Kyle Lowry](/nba/players/1113164/kyle-lowry/), who has been hampered by a knee problem and struggled when he has been on the floor. For all the talent on the roster, they have not been able to put things together, and with more than half of the season now gone they are still stuck under .500 at 25-27 -- a mark that has them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. [Kyrie Irving](/nba/players/1779901/kyrie-irving/) to the Mavericks on Sunday, there are all sorts of questions about where they go from here. [Stein added](https://twitter.com/thesteinline/status/1622712198249283603?s=46&t=MilULIHXBS-NwSSVllChcw) that the Nets were interested in Toronto's [Pascal Siakam](/nba/players/2157611/pascal-siakam/) as well, but that one was always unlikely. Given the fact that he isn't playing much, the Sixers wouldn't be opposed to moving Korkmaz, but it's fair to wonder what they could get in return for the forward given the fact that his trade value isn't very high.