The rumors surrounding Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets have intensified as free company approaches. And Skip Bayless believes the franchise could possibly be completed with their All-Star guard.
The Nets’ 2021-22 marketing campaign led to disappointment after enduring an unstable season. They reached the playoffs after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers within the play-in match however couldn’t muster a win in opposition to the Boston Celtics within the first spherical.
Kyrie, who was unavailable for the higher a part of the season as a result of his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine, was out there to assist through the playoffs. However he was shut down, identical to Kevin Durant was, by Boston’s unbelievable defensive show.
Now, the subject of if the Nets will signal Kyrie to a long-term deal is enthralling the NBA group, and pundits are giving their takes. On “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed,” Bayless mentioned thinks there’s a likelihood each events will go their separate methods this offseason.
“All I do know for positive is that, in accordance with a number of stories, they don’t seem to be pleased with Kyrie Irving,” Bayless mentioned. “The strongest report mentioned that they’re outright unwilling to provide Kyrie a long-term extension. Effectively, certainly that has gotten again to Kyrie. Absolutely, he’s effectively conscious of that. He is a really proud younger man.
“So, it is potential that within the subsequent month he’ll simply say, ‘Heck with you I am out,’ as a result of he can choose outright, develop into an unrestricted free agent inside the subsequent month. Would he try this? Effectively, figuring out Kyrie it is potential he would try this simply because he is offended by the best way he was handled final yr.
“As a result of I remind you, there was a flashpoint once they lastly despatched Kyrie residence, and his finest buddy, Kevin Durant, signed off on it, he blessed it. He mentioned, ‘Yep, let’s go ahead with out it.’ Not till later within the season. Did they crawl again to Kyrie as they had been teetering and beginning to lose?”
“So, I consider, backside line, Kyrie’s determination to not get vaccinated wrecked that staff final yr in some ways, but it surely wrecked James Harden. He is out. KD, he appeared half-hearted about the remainder of the season. They by no means acquired their legs again beneath them. That they had different points happening, however Kyrie was the difficulty.
“And it sounded prefer it went all the best way to the highest to the proprietor, that they’re near being completed with Kyrie, and I do not assume they’d be actually sad if he opted out and hit the free company.”
Irving has a participant choice this summer time, and it is going to be as much as him if he performs not less than yet one more season with the Nets. He has expressed his need to remain long run with Durant and the Nets, however there may be concern that the group may not be keen to supply him a long-term deal.
The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly ‘unwilling’ to provide Kyrie Irving a long-term extension as a result of his private determination to not get vaccinated and unpredictable damage historical past, per @Krisplashed https://t.co/zsDNLjT1qL
Kyrie Irving performed solely 29 video games for the Brooklyn Nets within the 2021-22 season
The Nets had been championship favorites earlier than the beginning of the season. However issues turned sideways with the announcement that Kyrie Irving could be ineligible to play in New York Metropolis as a result of metropolis’s COVID-19 mandate.
Irving stood his floor about not getting the vaccine, and the franchise determined to hold on with out him. There was an choice to play street video games, however on the time, it was full time or nothing.
Additionally Learn
Article Continues under
The entrance workplace retreated on its determination in December, and Irving began enjoying half time in January. Nevertheless, that month, KD injured his knee, and later James Harden demanded a commerce.
Even together with his presence, the Nets endured a nasty 11-game shedding streak and a 3-17 swoon. Irving performed in solely 29 video games, with Brooklyn going 14-15.
The previous NBA champ averaged 27.4 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists whereas capturing 46.9%.
