Once the dust settles from the 2023 <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-most-likely-destinations-for-draymond-green-in-case-of-warriors-exit-2-20230621-SPD-3749.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Draft</a>, free agency will become the front and center of the summer. <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-best-free-agents-that-could-be-available-in-2023-20230618-SPD-3728.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a>, an NBA All-Star guard, is expected to become a free agent this summer. 



He hopes to sign another long-term, expensive contract after being dealt to the Dallas Mavericks from the Brooklyn Nets in February. A maximum deal may be what Irving is after, but after years of contentious comments and choices on and off the court, the market for the erratic player isn’t exactly strong. 



Even so, Irving remains one of the NBA’s most gifted offensive players, and as we saw with Dallas’ trade for him in February, there will always be a club ready to take a chance on him. In anticipation of Irving’s impending free agency on June 30th, here are three potential destinations for him to take up residence in, as per CBS Sports.



<h2>3. Houston Rockets</h2>



It would be surprising to see Irving sign with the Rockets if they failed to get James Harden, but it has been claimed that he will speak with numerous clubs when free agency begins. It’s possible that Irving and his team are using this as leverage to attempt to convince the Mavericks to increase their offer.



It may not go down well in Dallas, however, since there aren’t many clubs that would be willing to pay what he’s asking. If winning is the most crucial factor for Irving, then Dallas is the clear winner between the two Texas clubs with Doncic currently on the roster.



<h2>2. Los Angeles Lakers</h2>



Even though the Lakers haven’t been linked to another Irving in recent reports (rather the contrary has been reported), it doesn’t mean they won’t do it again. The Lakers would have to do some serious financial juggling to get Irving to Los Angeles, but it’s doable if both teams are committed to working together. Even more so if Irving forwent a max deal in favor of a wage reduction.



<h2>1. Dallas Mavericks</h2>



Re-signing Irving is expected to be Dallas’ top priority this summer. The Mavericks acquired him in a blockbuster trade at the February trade deadline that cost them Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected first-round selection in 2029, and two second-round choices.



The recorded problems in Boston and Brooklyn show that Dallas should negotiate a little before signing Irving, but granting him a max contract carries a high degree of risk. Even though Irving has a lot of issues that might restrict his time with the Mavericks last season, he is undeniably a dynamic offensive threat in the few games he played in.

NBA: Top 3 most likely destinations for free agent Kyrie Irving

NBA: Top 3 most likely destinations for free agent Kyrie Irving - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

As soon as time expired in Denver’s Game 5 victory over <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-most-likely-destinations-for-bradley-beal-in-case-of-wizards-exit-20230617-SPD-3716.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami</a>, thus securing the franchise’s first NBA title in franchise history, our collective focus shifted from the NBA to the summer. Beginning on June 30, when free agency officially opens, clubs and players may begin discussions for the next <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-possible-targets-for-heat-to-bolster-roster-20230615-SPD-3700.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> season.



A few dozen players are actually traded throughout the NBA trade season, but many more are involved in the shuffle. Only a dozen or so players in the NBA at any one moment are completely off-limits.



There is no franchise-altering superstar in the class of 2023 free agents, but there are a few players who may make a splash next year. Even if they don’t make quite as big of an impact this summer, several under-the-radar players might wind up being crucial come the 2023-24 NBA season. 



<h2>3. Khris Middleton</h2>



Middleton’s 2022-23 season was marred by an injury, but he made a full recovery and averaged 24 points on 47 percent shooting, 41 percent three-pointers, and 87 percent free throws in the playoffs. Milwaukee probably won’t let him leave as a free agent because of how important he is to the franchise, but he’ll have lots of suitors. 



Middleton’s knee surgery came after the Bucks were eliminated from postseason contention. By training camp, he should be well enough to return.



<h2>2. Kyrie Irving</h2>



After playing 20 games with the Mavericks, in which they ultimately gave up on a play-in place, Irving concluded with season-highs of 27 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Despite Dallas’s post-trade struggles, the club was a plus-four in net rating when both Doncic and Irving were on the court, which might prompt the front office to make him an attractive offer.



 Even if he doesn’t, there will always be clubs ready to deal with Irving’s off-court issues in order to get their hands on a player of Irving’s quality.



<h2>1. James Harden</h2>



Harden has been effective as the 76ers’ point guard, even if he hasn’t been able to lead them to the playoffs. He led the NBA in assists last season, and he also averaged 21 points per game and his best 3-point shooting since his last season with OKC in 2012. 



There has been persistent rumbling that Harden may return to Houston, but the clubhouse favorite is likely to be a reunion with Nick Nurse in Philadelphia.

NBA: Top 3 best free agents that could be available in 2023 - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA: Top 3 best free agents that could be available in 2023

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-possible-targets-for-warriors-to-bolster-roster-20230529-SPD-3660.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a> came into this NBA season as one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. Even with <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-players-that-might-challenge-nikola-jokic-for-2023-nba-mvp-award-20230318-SPD-3509.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joel Embiid</a>‘s MVP season, they couldn’t quite make it.



For the third time in as many years, the Sixers’ Doc Rivers era ended in the second round of the playoffs with a loss. Despite firing their coach, the team may have underlying problems that need the addition of multiple new players throughout the summer.



If James Harden leaves, as has been speculated, it might become much more apparent. Keeping that in mind, let’s examine three alternative objectives they may pursue.



<h2>3. Dorian Finney-Smith</h2>



The Sixers need to accept the reality that they have outgrown Tobias Harris and find a replacement. Now that he’s nearing the last year of his deal, he might be traded for a number of draft selections.



They may then go for Dorian Finney-Smith, one of the finest wing-stoppers in the league, to replace Al Horford as their starting small forward, and deploy him mostly against Jayson Tatum and/or Jaylen Brown.



<h2>2. Kyrie Irving</h2>



Considering Daryl Morey’s history as an aggressive businessman, we can’t completely exclude this possibility, even if it defies logic.



Kyrie Irving, a free agency, may be a good fit to replace James Harden, giving the 76ers another explosive scorer and excellent ball-handler to play with Joel Embiid, despite the obvious dangers involved.



<h2>1. Damian Lillard</h2>



Damian Lillard’s name has been bandied around in trade rumors involving many clubs, notably the Philadelphia 76ers, for quite some time. The veteran James Harden would benefit greatly from his addition.



Lillard has expressed his desire to not be a part of a rebuild by the Portland Trail Blazers, and trading him would make sense for both sides.

NBA: Top 3 possible targets for 76ers to bolster roster - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA: Top 3 possible targets for 76ers to bolster roster

Last season was more complicated than predicted for the Nets. With <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-the-reason-why-nets-wouldnt-trade-kyrie-irving-to-lakers-2561-20220820-SPD-2561.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> out for months, the team struggled to get results. But even when he got back, Brooklyn had to go through the Play-In Tournament.



Though they managed to secure the seventh seed, it didn’t take long for the Nets’ aspirations to be over. Steve Nash‘s team was swept by the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/we-have-been-overrated-celtics-owner-wyc-grousbeck-2788-20220919-SPD-2788.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Celtics</a> in the first round, a defeat that continues to make noise in Brooklyn.



Since then, the team went through a lot of trouble – with Kevin Durant almost leaving the organization this offseason. However, Irving recently revealed that they could actually learn a lot from that elimination.



<h2>Kyrie Irving calls brutal loss to Celtics a ‘humbling experience’</h2>



(Via Fadeaway World)



“Since we got 4-0’d, my G, we got 4-0’d… It was meant to happen like that. Motivation, bro. We needed that humbling experience, especially going against the Celtics. You know, it was already built in to be that matchup,” Irving said. 



“We gonna see them again. We gonna have to. They gonna be where they gonna be but those youngins over there in Boston bro, I got to see them grow up. So to see them doing what they did last year, on the Finals stage, making it that far, I’m glad they had to go through us.”

NBA News: Kyrie Irving opens up on Nets' brutal loss to Celtics last season

NBA News: Kyrie Irving opens up on Nets' brutal loss to Celtics last season - thesportsdrops NEWS

Following one of their worst campaigns, if not the worst, in recent years, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/report-russell-westbrook-will-opt-into-47m-option-to-return-to-the-lakers-1842-20220628-SPD-1842.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> head into the 2022-23 NBA season aiming to get back to prominence.



<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/new-lakers-coach-darvin-ham-content-with-current-roster-in-spite-of-recent-trade-rumors-2112-20220710-SPD-2112.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Darvin Ham</a> has taken the reins of the team after the firing of Frank Vogel, and he has a lot of work to do. Though he’s expected to get the best out of his players, it became clear that this roster needs changes.



In the wake of Kevin Durant‘s trade request, the future of Kyrie Irving could be out of Brooklyn as well. Therefore, the Lakers have been mentioned as <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-and-nets-actively-exploring-russell-westbrook-kyrie-irving-trade-1969-20220703-SPD-1969.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a potential landing spot</a> since then. But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, they will not limit their options to Irving.



<h2>Lakers are not limiting their trade targets to Kyrie Irving</h2>



“I think the Lakers will make a deal, maybe more than one deal. It may not be for Kyrie Irving, it may not be for an All-NBA player, an All-Star, but players like Eric Gordon in Houston, and Buddy Hield in Indiana,” Woj said, via Fadeaway World.



“It’s not completely dead with Brooklyn, but so much depends on what happens with Kevin Durant. The Nets are more focused on trying to find a deal for KD before they’d move Kyrie Irving. I don’t think the Lakers are done. They are trying to find deals that allow them to improve without gassing all of their assets.”

NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers have other targets besides Kyrie Irving

NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers have other targets besides Kyrie Irving - thesportsdrops NEWS

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-shannon-sharpe-wants-lebron-james-kyrie-irving-to-join-forces-again-1692-20220621-SPD-1692.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/report-russell-westbrook-will-opt-into-47m-option-to-return-to-the-lakers-1842-20220628-SPD-1842.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Russell Westbrook</a> might be swapped in a deal between the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-seeking-to-secure-a-deal-for-kevin-durant-after-star-requests-trade-1907-20220630-SPD-1907.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/no-lakers-stay-malik-monk-agrees-two-year-19-million-deal-with-kings-1912-20220630-SPD-1912.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, according to Chris Haynes. Other elements would need to be engaged, but there is ‘palpable confidence’ that the two parties may reach an agreement this summer.



According to Haynes, the Nets are interested in signing sharpshooting guard Joe Harris, who will be paid $38.6m over the next two years. However, rather than taking on Harris’ deal, the Lakers want the Nets to part with Seth Curry.



This week, both Irving and Westbrook exercised their player options, but now the two parties must work out a salary agreement. Both Irving and Westbrook have contracts worth $36.5 million and $47 million, respectively, for the next season. The Nets are also looking for draft compensation as part of the agreement.



<h2>Which team might be the winner of the trade?</h2>



Following the Nets’ acceptance of Kevin Durant’s request for a trade, Irving has selected the last year of a contract worth $36.4 million. However, it is expected that he could be dealt with soon afterward, as per Brian Windhorst.



The Lakers have nothing to lose. With LeBron James and Kyrie Irving having previously worked together for the Cavaliers, Irving is the team’s greatest opportunity to acquire more leadership this summer.

NBA Rumors: Lakers and Nets actively exploring Russell Westbrook-Kyrie Irving trade - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Rumors: Lakers and Nets actively exploring Russell Westbrook-Kyrie Irving trade

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

Back in the day, <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">LeBron James</a> and <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> formed one of the mightiest duos in the league. During their time together in Cleveland, they led the Cavaliers to their first ever NBA championship.



However, their careers have taken a different direction when Kyrie decided to part ways. While The King eventually won another ring in <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-darvin-ham-has-high-expectations-of-lakers-starstruck-team-1435-20220610-SPD-1435.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles</a>, Irving struggled to challenge for the title.



This offseason, the possibility of Irving joining LeBron’s <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-new-lakers-coach-darvin-ham-plans-to-keep-russell-westbook-1379-20220608-SPD-1379.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lakers</a> is drawing a lot of speculation since Kyrie’s future with the Nets looks uncertain. If you ask Shannon Sharpe, he would love to see them together on the floor again.



<h2>Shannon Sharpe suggests LeBron James, Kyrie Irving should reunite next season</h2>



“Yea, the Lakers should try, but with what? What assets you got other than LeBron and AD? You take Russ? You want Russ? LeBron is a therapist. Think about what he got Kyrie to do, something Kyrie hadn’t been able to do with any other star. … The chemistry that he and LeBron had. We saw what they did together. Went to three NBA Finals, won one,” Sharpe said, via Fadeaway World.



No matter how controversial Irving might be, he would certainly be a massive addition for LeBron and the Lakers. However, this possibility will depend on what the Nets ultimately decide to do with him.

NBA News: Shannon Sharpe wants LeBron James, Kyrie Irving to join forces again - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Shannon Sharpe wants LeBron James, Kyrie Irving to join forces again

Seasons come and go, but <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-lakers-contemplated-reuniting-kyrie-irving-with-lebron-james-696-20220512-SPD-696.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a>‘s drama never does. The team’s summer has arrived sooner than intended, and both the point guard and <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">Brooklyn Net</a>s must now make important choices.



Three weeks after the Nets’ humiliation at the hands of the Boston Celtics, Kyrie Irving made it clear that he “doesn’t intend on moving anywhere.” 



Even though the veteran wants to stay in Brooklyn alongside <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> for the long haul, his contract is set to expire. According to the team’s general manager Sean Marks, discussions about a possible extension have not yet taken place.



<h2>No talks between Nets and Irving yet</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“We have not had a conversation yet. So I look forward to getting in a room with him and Joe and his team, and we will. We’ll see what it looks like for Kyrie moving forward here, and what he needs from us and so forth.So, again, it wouldn’t be right for me to comment on what hypothetical could happen, because we don’t know. We haven’t had those conversations with Kyrie yet. But when they do, we’ll see if it’s the right fit for both sides.We want to avoid the drama, we want to avoid the distractions. These last couple years here, whether it was expectation set on the team or some of the outside circumstances that were going on in the world, they affected our guys — both individually and as a group — really poorly, unfortunately.”<cite>Sean Marks to YES Network</cite></blockquote>

NBA News: Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving yet to discuss contract extension - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving yet to discuss contract extension

<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>

Kyrie Irving