76ers Rival Rumors: Who is Interested in Nets’ Kyrie Irving

Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving has requested a trade. Which teams are rumors to be interested?

Winning hasn’t cured everything for the Brooklyn Nets. For a while, it seemed everything was going well for the Nets as they became one of the NBA’s hottest teams after a drama-filled offseason and a rocky start to the 2022-2023 season.

But now Brooklyn’s star guard Kyrie Irving wants to be traded again. Back in the summer, all signs were pointing towards Irving opting out of his contract in hopes of a sign-and-trade scenario to land somewhere else. Irving shocked the basketball world when he accepted the player option on his contract with Brooklyn.

While it seems the Nets believed they had a repaired relationship with Irving, who they attempted to extend recently, the All-Star guard declined the contract offer and requested a trade, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency in July.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023

Being that Irving’s one of the NBA’s most talented guards, there are teams interested. Are the Philadelphia 76ers among that group?

Most likely not. Back in the summer, when Irving suggested a list of teams he desired to play for, Philadelphia was a destination the star guard preferred. Shortly after it was revealed the Sixers were a targeted team, several reports shut down the idea of Irving reuniting with James Harden on the Sixers.

The Sixers might not be interested in Irving, but there are a few Western Conference teams with their eyes on the star guard. To no surprise, the Los Angeles Lakers are keeping an eye on Irving once again. So are the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks, according to Charania.

Currently, the Nets are the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed sitting behind the Sixers. When Irving and Kevin Durant are sharing the court, Brooklyn is a significant threat to the East. In 40 games this season, Irving has averaged 27 points, five rebounds, and five assists. He’s knocked down 37 percent of his threes on nearly nine attempts per game.

The Nets will want a notable return for their All-Star, but they might not get equal or better value for Irving if they do find a trade worth making. It doesn’t seem like Irving is willing to hold out until a deal is made in order to force Brooklyn’s hand — but it seems that regardless of what happens this season — the star guard will be hitting the free agency market this summer.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.