What should the Brooklyn Nets do with Kyrie Irving?
ESPN predicts the Brooklyn Nets as the foreseeable champions for this upcoming season despite Kyrie Irving’s projection of missing half the season due to the vaccine mandate.
Due to the NBA’s vaccine mandate, it has been revealed that Irving will miss half of the regular season as he will be unable to play home games. For a player getting paid a max contract, this is a massive loss for a team trying to win a championship. Yet despite this news, ESPN still believes that the Brooklyn Nets will win the 2021-22 championship.
ESPN choosing the Nets over the Los Angeles Lakers is odd, especially when factoring that the Lakers will have all of their players available for the start of this season. Even though injuries are inevitable, at least the Lakers front office does not have the stress of encouraging one of their star players to receive the vaccine. With Irving’s refusal to receive the vaccine, what should the Brooklyn Nets do with the former champion?
Since his last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving has built the reputation of being an unpleasant player to build a championship roster around. From his regular absences to his inconsistent desire to play basketball, there is a level of risk that comes when building a team around Irving. However, it becomes much deeper in this situation as it goes beyond both Irving and the organization. Suppose Irving is available for every game this upcoming season without any of his usual tactics? In that case, he would have to sit out half of the games despite being available due to the vaccine mandate by the NBA. This is problematic as the Nets are in a win-now mindset and cannot afford to lose a player as highly valued as Irving.
At this point, the best option for the Brooklyn Nets is to trade Irving to a team where he could play every game. The New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors are the only teams that have exercised a vaccine mandate with no exceptions to anyone. The rest of the NBA only requires the fans to be vaccinated. This is a unique opportunity for specific organizations to trade for Irving. His value has depleted, but his production on the basketball court is high.
According to Stephen A Smith of ESPN’s First Take, the Philadelphia 76ers proposed a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for Irving until Kevin Durant voided the transaction. In other words, a Ben Simmons for Irving swap was most likely accepted until Durant voided the trade offer. If this report is accurate, Kevin Durant made a terrible mistake.
Simmons on the Brooklyn Nets would add defence, better playmaking and athleticism at the point guard position. While Irving does provide better offence, he has never been classified as a true play-maker and instead has always been a shot-creator. The production of Simmons would have been greater than Irving for the Nets team, considering that the Nets already have two shot-creating super-stars in Durant and James Harden. Furthermore, Simmons’s defensive ability would be ideal for whoever they face.
While Durant’s loyalty for Irving is admirable, the idea of Ben Simmons joining the Brooklyn Nets is a story that will always be a what-if story. Like Irving, Simmons also has low trade value and reputation in the NBA, but that would no longer matter if this trade happened. Simmons needs a new start to his career, and that would have happened if this trade went through. Even though he lacks a jump-shot, he wouldn’t need one on the Nets as every player in their starting five possesses one.
Closing Thoughts
When Irving initially joined the Brooklyn Nets with Kevin Durant, it broke the internet. Many felt that the Nets had the potential to become the greatest offensive team in NBA history. That idea solidified when they broke the internet again and successfully traded for James Harden in the 2020-21 season.
The Nets’ potential is unmatched as they have a chance to become the next significant dynasty in NBA history. However, Irving's unlikelihood of receiving the vaccine has put Brooklyn’s dynasty aspirations on hold. Unless Durant is willing to allow the Nets to trade Irving, Brooklyn will most likely lose to the Los Angeles Lakers if they make the Finals.
The unfortunate reality now is, the Nets will never fulfil their potential in the NBA unless Irving receives the vaccine. Missing half of the regular season and playoffs games is a massive loss for the Nets, especially when looking at where they stand in the NBA today. Irving is one of the greatest playoff performers in NBA history. Losing him for literally half of the season is a significant loss for a team trying to win a championship.
The best-case scenario for the Brooklyn Nets to fulfil their dynasty aspirations is to trade Irving for either Ben Simmons or Damian Lillard, two players that have been on the trading block since the start of the off-season.