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NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving Trade Talks Currently ‘Frozen’

The Brooklyn Nets were unsure of Kyrie Irving’s future with the organization a few weeks ago. As the option deadline loomed for the star guard, it seemed Irving

Justin Grasso

NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving Trade Talks Currently ‘Frozen’
NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving Trade Talks Currently ‘Frozen’ /
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The Brooklyn Nets were unsure of Kyrie Irving’s future with the organization a few weeks ago. As the option deadline loomed for the star guard, it seemed Irving was unlikely to return to Brooklyn for the 2022-2023 NBA season.

But Irving did the opposite of what was being reported. Instead of declining his player option and becoming a free agent this offseason, Irving opted-in with the Nets for next year as he wanted to fulfill his commitment to Kevin Durant and Brooklyn.

However, the Nets remain unsure about the future regarding its two stars. Kevin Durant requested a trade ahead of the opening of free agency. With uncertainty now surrounding Durant, the Nets are fielding offers for the former MVP while mulling on the future of Irving.

Although Irving accepted his player option, reports indicated that the Nets are still willing to part ways with Irving. However, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, those talks are on hold.

“The market on Kyrie remains frozen,” Windhorst said Monday on 'Get Up.' “The only team known to have interest is the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Nets have given out the vibe they want to do a Kevin Durant trade first before moving on to Kyrie.”

When Irving was reportedly open to a possible sign-and-trade before accepting his player option, he had a list of several teams he liked, which included the Philadelphia 76ers.

It’s clear that the interest between Irving and the Sixers is not mutual. To no surprise, the Los Angeles Lakers are the only team consistently linked to Irving, considering the LeBron James connection.

It’s no guarantee that Irving will be donning a Lakers uniform next season, but based on what Windhorst is hearing around the league, there is a high chance Irving played his final game for Brooklyn.

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

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Title: Credentialed writer/reporter covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation Email: JustinGrasso32@Gmail.com Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Reporting, insight, and analysis on the Sixers and the NBA  Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation.  Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association.  Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA

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