The future of <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/warriors-star-in-2022-nba-finals-andrew-wiggins-reveals-true-feelings-on-the-cavs-1494-20220613-SPD-1494.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> player <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-treatment-of-kyrie-irving-may-force-point-guard-to-leave-1125-20220529-SPD-1125.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> 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, <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-new-lakers-contract-likely-off-table-for-lebron-james-1559-20220616-SPD-1559.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a> 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.



<h2>What Durant said about Irving’s final decision</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“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.”<cite> Kevin Durant told The ETCs Podcast</cite></blockquote>

NBA News: Kevin Durant won't get involved in Kyrie Irving's decision on future - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Kevin Durant won't get involved in Kyrie Irving's decision on future

miniaturas

<a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/when-could-lebron-james-and-his-son-bronny-play-together-in-the-nba-201-20220503-SPD-201.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-point-guards-of-all-time-in-nba-107-20220502-SPD-107.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> may have been reunited in Los Angeles had a trade between the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-rings-how-many-nba-championships-have-the-lakers-won-86-20220502-SPD-86.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lakers</a> and <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/which-is-the-most-valuable-nba-team-176-20220503-SPD-176.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nets</a> took place, according to reports.



To a recent source from SNY‘s Ian Begley, “the Lakers pondered chasing” Irving earlier this season when the Nets benched him for refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19.



After Mayor Eric Adams adjusted vaccine requirement limits for athletes and entertainers, Irving was permitted to return to Barclays Center for games in late March after first resuming road games in January.



<h2>How the idea of Irving-James reunion came up</h2>



When Irving and James won the NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, Irving demanded a trade and ended up in Boston, where he signed with the Celtics for two seasons before joining the Nets together with <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/kevin-durant-profile-what-is-durants-height-and-weight-255-20220503-SPD-255.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a>. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Several outlets, including SNY, reported that the Nets had been open to talking to teams about potential Irving trades during that time. Obviously, nothing came to fruition. But some members of the Lakers organization discussed the possibility of trading for Irving during that stretch of the season, sources say. The deal would have obviously reunited Irving with LeBron James. It’s unclear if the Lakers reached any internal consensus on Irving at the time.”<cite>Ian Begley from SYN</cite></blockquote>

NBA News: Lakers contemplated reuniting Kyrie Irving with LeBron James - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Lakers contemplated reuniting Kyrie Irving with LeBron James

<a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-players-with-most-triple-doubles-of-all-time-214-20220503-SPD-214.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> supporters may breathe a sigh of relief that <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-history-who-is-the-nbas-all-time-leading-scorer-165-20220502-SPD-165.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Simmons</a> has had back surgery and is anticipated to be ready for training camp before the start of the 2022-23 season, which is terrific news for the group.



However, will the franchise and other fans get a chance to see Ben Simmons in action? This is in doubt, according to a recent report.



In a trade involving many players, the 76ers acquired the 25-year-old point guard from the Nets in exchange for <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-power-forwards-of-all-time-in-nba-259-20220503-SPD-259.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Harden</a>. Interestingly, Simmons was being pursued by the Hawks at the time of the transaction.



<h2>Atlanta Hawks to acquire Ben Simmons?</h2>



In the summer, it’s possible that Brooklyn may try to trade the Australian player, and the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-attendance-history-what-is-the-highest-attended-game-of-all-time-141-20220502-SPD-141.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atlanta Hawks</a> have a greater chance of acquiring him because of his diminished market worth.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I’d also keep an eye on Simmons, too. Several people inside the Hawks’ organization wanted Simmons at the trade deadline. The price might not be as high to land him now, especially if Brooklyn decides to move on before he plays one game for the Nets.”<cite>Chris Kirschner of The Athletic</cite></blockquote>

Brooklyn Nets - Page 2

NBA News: Kevin Durant won't get involved in Kyrie Irving's decision on future

NBA News: Lakers contemplated reuniting Kyrie Irving with LeBron James

NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons could be traded to Hawks without ever playing for Nets

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