Subscribe
Follow Us
Earlier Saturday, just a couple days removed from learning he is a full-time player once again, Kyrie Irving talked about his future with the Brooklyn Nets and how he wants to stay long-term and play alongside Kevin Durant.
While much of the focus of the day was on the Nets playing a struggling Miami Heat team in a must-win game for the playoffs seeding, fans can't help but wonder where things stand on Irving's future. Will he sign a four- or five-year extension to stay or will he leave in free agency like James Harden might have done if they never traded him away?
To recall, the team was hoping Kyrie–who just turned 30 days ago–might accept a $187 million extension the front office offered him earlier this season. But it wasn't the right time for him then, apparently. And that was before the team pulled the offer back upon learning he was unwilling to get vaccinated, leaving him ineligible to appear in home games. So it became a scary situation for fans and we can imagine it was a trying time, basketball-wise, for Durant. At many points throughout this year, the team could have really used Irving. They might well be the team atop the East had he been around all year long.
Prior to tip off in a showdown versus the Miami Heat (where Spoelstra is out for personal reasons .. hmm is this related to the Jimmy Butler-incident?), Coach Steve Nash was asked about Irving and what he thinks about his future with the team.
“I think we all feel confident that we'll have Kyrie [Irving] back, but you know, that's a front office question,” Nash shared.
Article Continues Below
"I think we all feel confident that we'll have Kyrie [Irving] back [long-term] but, you know that's a front office question."
-Steve Nash on Irving's potential unrestricted free agency this summer. Irving mentioned earlier today he didn't want to leave Durant.#netsworld pic.twitter.com/LY1Db7JNvz
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) March 26, 2022
The Nets have utilized coach Nash to spread misinformation at points this year. Remember his bold take that they weren't going to trade James Harden? However, this is a lot easier to believe.
Brooklyn literally offered Irving an extension at one point. They'd likely move heaven and earth now to avoid losing him to a rival in free agency, so we can assume the front office will back up the brinks trucks to keep the local product around Brooklyn for the long-haul.
We know Nash saying we're confident isn't the same as owner Joe Tsai or GM Sean Marks saying it. But who knows, maybe he's speaking for them. Either way, Nets fans can take a bit of solace knowing the head coach says he's optimistic Irving will sign a long-term deal.
