The future of Brooklyn Nets player Kyrie Irving will be closely followed over the coming weeks. Before deciding on his $36.5 million player option for the next season, Irving has until June 29 to make a final choice.
Multiple sources claim that the two sides have reached an impasse in their negotiations about his contract and he may still return to the Nets should he choose to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. Irving, of course, wants a max contract, but the Nets are wary of making a long-term commitment to a player who hasn’t been consistent in recent seasons.
As the driving factor behind the Brooklyn experiment, Kevin Durant would undoubtedly want to keep his teammate. In an interview with The ETCs Podcast on Friday, the 33-year-old ex-Warriors star said that he would, however, stay away from further involvement.
What Durant said about Irving’s final decision
“It’s no involvement at all. I can’t be involved with it. This is this man’s livelihood. This is much bigger than me. Being a free agent, it’s one of the most important times in your career. That can’t be swayed by anybody else. I just do me and wait for the time. There’s nothing that can happen right now. I don’t think he can even make a decision on opting out until the 29th, I think.
“I just let things play out and see what happens, but keep the regular contact up with Ky and see what happens. It’s something that’s so much out of my control that I don’t want to be a part of it. We’ll see what happens though.” That’s where I’m at with it. Basketball is obviously the most important thing but I try not to let that get in the way of somebody else’s personal decision. Like I said, whatever happens, the friendship will still be there.”
Kevin Durant told The ETCs Podcast
