Kyrie Irving is hurt. Again.
But this time, it's not a broken bone in his face or a shoulder issue. It's a knee sprain, and given Irving's history, Brooklyn Nets fans have every right to hold their breath.
On the bright side, Irving's most recent injury is not in the same knee in which he underwent a pair of surgeries between 2016 and 2018, but still, more knee problems is always worrisome.
Irving has only played in 20 games during his debut season with the Nets, and when he has been on the floor, he has been brilliant, averaging a career-high 27.4 points per game.
But with the Nets sitting at 21-27 and in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, it's becoming more and more apparent that regardless of how well Irving has played when healthy, Brooklyn isn't going anywhere this season.
Not without Kevin Durant, and not with a new group of guys who are still learning how to play together.
That's why the Nets need to use utmost care and caution when bringing Irving back from this knee injury, even if the injury isn't all that serious.
Right now, Irving's timetable seems pretty light. He might be back in a week or two, which is not really a big deal.
But Brooklyn needs to be absolutely, positively 100 percent sure that if and when it does insert Irving back into the lineup, he is completely healthy.
Let's face it: it was never about this season for the Nets anyway. Everyone knew Durant would miss the entire 2019-20 campaign, so punting to next year was pretty much expected.
I'm not sure anyone expected Brooklyn to be this bad (let's keep in mind that the Nets haven't looked good even when Kyrie has been available), but I also don't think anyone expected them to make a deep playoff run.
It was always about the 2020-21 season for Brooklyn, and considering its first-round draft pick this season depends on whether or not it makes the playoffs, sitting Irving to ensure he is 100 percent and missing the postseason as a result would not be the worst thing in the world.
Remember: the Nets traded a lottery protected pick (along with Allen Crabbe and his contract) to the Atlanta Hawks for Taurean Prince over the summer, so if Brooklyn makes the playoffs, the Hawks get that selection.
Really, there is not much of a benefit to the Nets rushing Irving back when they don't have all that much to play for this season to begin with.
If they do opt to sideline Irving for an extended period of time, Brooklyn fans should understand. Again, when the Nets signed Irving and Durant in free agency, it was under the premise that they would play together in two years.
For a Brooklyn squad that is languishing in what is a horrific bottom half of the East, Kyrie Irving's health for next year should be the No. 1 priority; not getting blasted in the first round of the playoffs.
It remains to be seen how the Nets handle their star point guard, but if they don't err on the side of extreme caution, they are being very silly.
Follow Us
Subscribe