Kyrie Irving

'Full circle' LeBron moment set to fuel 'serious' Kyrie-Lakers talks... but troubled past could spoil it all.

James, I’m told, wants to see Irving in Lakerland more than anyone.” “When you look at Russell Westbrook, you look at their two first-round picks, is that enough for Kyrie Irving? Do the Lakers make that offer? ‘SERIOUS’ LAKERS TALKS NOW LOOM](https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nba/nba-2023-trade-news-kyrie-irving-requests-move-from-brooklyn-nets-next-franchise-contract/news-story/ba3da785182a60ad5b2df9a2d3332a5c) It is not the first time LeBron James and the Lakers have been linked to Irving, with the Lakers superstar reportedly pushing for the pair to link up in July last year. Meanwhile, a struggling team who may have the right package to trade for Irving is unlikely to be the best fit for the Nets superstar either given the risk involved.

Kyrie Irving has requested a trade ahead from the Brooklyn Nets ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Thursday, according to multiple sources.

Irving also wound up losing his long relationship with Nike as part of the massive fallout from what he tweeted and the reactions that followed. Durant also had asked the Nets for a trade this past summer, before cooler heads prevailed. [suspended by the Nets](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/03/kyrie-irving-suspended-brooklyn-nets-antisemitic-beliefs) for what became eight games earlier this season after the team said it was dismayed by his repeated failure to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs”. Brooklyn are 31-20 this season, fourth in the Eastern Conference standings entering Friday, and have gone 4-7 since fellow All-Star Kevin Durant hurt his knee in a game at Miami on 8 January. Irving’s agent and stepmother, Shetellia Irving, told Bleacher Report last week that she had reached out to the Nets regarding an extension. They play six of their last seven games before the All-Star break at home; the only “road” game in that stretch is at the New York Knicks.

Will Irving's trade request affect Kevin Durant's future with the Nets? What about other stars that want to team up in the future?

[Bradley Beal](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6580/bradley-beal) is a name to keep an eye on if the Wizards do not make the play-in game. I would say [Damian Lillard](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6606/damian-lillard), but the All-Star has shown loyalty to Portland and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Right now, their offense too often descends to [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6450/kawhi-leonard) and [Paul George](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4251/paul-george) taking turns going one-on-one. [Lakers](/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers) are one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA, and if they could somehow turn Westbrook into Irving, the offense could suddenly thrive. [Boston](/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics) and [Cleveland](/nba/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers), Irving had a chance to steady things next to Durant in Brooklyn and compete for championships on his own terms. and [Reggie Bullock](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2528779/reggie-bullock) from the [Mavericks](/nba/team/_/name/dal/dallas-mavericks)? The fact that they never advanced past the second round of the playoffs, amidst all the drama and chaos, makes this one of the most underwhelming eras in NBA history. People will point to the Bucks series a couple years ago and play the "what if" game, but it's hard to overcome the number of distractions that have surrounded this group regardless of talent level -- and Irving has caused the vast majority of them. This strained partnership has gone from bad to worse this season, and assuming the Nets can get anything of value in return, which might be a big assumption, this relationship is over. [Russell Westbrook](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3468/russell-westbrook) or [D'Angelo Russell](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3136776/d'angelo-russell) for example) does nothing for Brooklyn, unless a first-round pick or young player is attached. For example, does an extra year owed to [Miami](/nba/team/_/name/mia/miami-heat)'s [Kyle Lowry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3012/kyle-lowry) make sense? [Kevin Durant](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3202/kevin-durant) requested a trade this past summer, then rescinded that request, it's [Kyrie Irving](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6442/kyrie-irving)'s turn.

The situation at the Brooklyn Nets has somehow got even more dramatic and LeBron James could be the benefactor. Daanyal Saeed. less than 2 min read.

In November last year, the Nets suspended Irving again, this time for refusing to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs” after he took to Twitter to share a link to an antisemitic documentary from 2018 entitled “Hebrews to Negroes”. The Nets enter the trade deadline placed 4th in the Eastern Conference. ESPN Sources: Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving has not shared a list of preferred teams, but he has maintained an interest in the Lakers. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade ahead of the February 9 deadline, telling the franchise he will walk in free agency in July if they can’t find a trade, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. He has not shared his list of preferred teams, but reportedly has maintained his interest in rejoining LeBron James at the Los Angeles Lakers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Kyrie Irving delivered his trade request to the Nets on Friday after both sides failed to reach an agreement on an extension, sources told ESPN.

However, neither team appears inclined to make a trade with the expectation of delivering Irving the long-term, max-level contract he's seeking, sources told ESPN. The Nets are 31-20 but have lost seven of 11 games since Durant was lost to an MCL sprain. Numerous teams are far more interested in how that situation could play out than in trying to inquire on Irving. If Irving is traded, he is eligible to sign a two-year $78.6 million extension with his new team until June 30. Dallas general manager Nico Harrison has a long-standing relationship with Irving from his days as a Nike executive, and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has also had a relationship with Irving. The Nets and Irving's agent, Shetellia Riley-Irving, had discussed an extension recently, but Brooklyn remained reluctant to rush into a long-term commitment without further evidence that Irving could stay reliable, perform at a high level and remain controversy-free, sources said.

The All-Star guard has reportedly informed the team he wants to be dealt before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Irving was suspended by the Nets earlier this season after posting a link to a documentary with antisemitic material and vowed upon his return to focus on basketball. The Nets acquired the three-time scoring champion from the Houston Rockets in a January 2021 deal, with the idea that Harden, Kevin Durant and Irving would be too potent to stop. In the 2021-22 campaign, guard James Harden sought a trade from Brooklyn and got one on trade deadline day as he [2023 All-Star Game](https://www.nba.com/allstar/2023/all-star-roster) and is averaging 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game this season for the Nets. Irving can leave the franchise this summer as a free agent. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports Irving would prefer to be dealt before the Feb.