Inside The Nets

Report: Kyrie Irving Leaving Kevin Durant For Lakers in Free Agency

The Brooklyn Nets may look very different next season

Joey Linn

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
In this story:

Nearly broken up this summer following Kevin Durant's trade request, the Brooklyn Nets may look very different next season. There were several reports this offseason that Kyrie Irving was trying to facilitate his way to the Los Angeles Lakers, and while he ultimately opted in and returned to Brooklyn, one analyst believes he will be in Los Angeles next summer.

On a recent ESPN segment, Stephen A. Smith said, "Barring a trade before the trade deadline, this is their last season together. They're not re-signing with Brooklyn. Kyrie is not re-signing with Brooklyn. Kyrie is planning to go to Los Angeles."

Smith continued, saying that Kyrie was already trying to get there this summer, and will finally find his way to Los Angeles in free agency after this season.

Durant is of course under contract for a while, but Irving will become a free agent this summer. With Russell Westbrook coming off the books for Los Angeles, they should have some more financial flexibility. According to Stephen A. Smith, Kyrie Irving plans to sign there, and was trying to find his way there this offseason as well.

While his reports are not always accurate, Smith is plugged in to several different NBA circles, and likely received this intel from somewhere. The accuracy of this report is to be determined, but if Smith is correct, this could be it for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant as a duo in Brooklyn.

Related Articles:

Rate the Trade: Kyle Kuzma to the Brooklyn Nets

Practice Footage of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons Revealed

New Potential Trade Target For Brooklyn Nets Revealed

Published
Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn32@sbcglobal.net Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis, insight, and reporting Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Receiving a media credential during the 2021-22 season, Joey has experience interviewing NBA players, and developing exclusive stories from these interviews. Having appeared on several different NBA podcasts over the last four seasons, Joey is now hosting his own podcast for The Sporting Tribune. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Now graduated, Joey is covering the NBA full-time across multiple platforms. Credentialed by the Clippers, Joey covers the team daily with articles, podcasts, and video breakdowns on YouTube. With four years of sports media experience, Joey provides expert insight and analysis for NBA fans across the league.

Home/News