Report: Nets All-Star Irving requests trade out of Brooklyn
Published
It appears that Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving wants out.
According to multiple reports, the All-Star point guard has told the franchise he wants a trade out of Brooklyn ahead of Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Irving has told the franchise he prefers to be dealt ahead of the deadline or he will leave via free agency this summer.
Charania reports that the Nets recently offered Irving an extension, but he declined it. According to Charania, the "extension offer was not well received" and that has been the major issue between the two sides ever since.
Furthermore, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Irving has not shared his list of preferred teams to the Nets, but "has maintained an interest in the Los Angeles Lakers." Wojnarowski adds that the Lakers would be interested in exploring a possible trade for Irving.
Irving and Lakers superstar LeBron James played three seasons together from 2014-2017, winning the league championship in 2016.
The Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks would also have interest in a potential trade for Irving, according to reports.
Irving and the Nets sit fourth in the Eastern Conference this season with a 31-20 record.
The 30-year-old is averaging 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists with a 48.6 per cent field goal percentage over 40 games in 2022-23, his fifth campaign in Brooklyn.
Irving, an 11-year veteran who has made seven career appearances in the All-Star Game, is in the final season of a four-year, $136 million contract signed ahead of the 2019-20 season.
The Nets suspended Irving earlier this season after he promoted an antisemitic documentary on social medal.