Now that insiders have listed preferred destinations for Kyrie Irving if he seeks a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Which are the best and worst fits?
Kyrie Irving has about a week to opt in or out of his player option with the Nets for the 2022-23 season.
In the meantime, pressure is riding on Brooklyn with major NBA insiders floating potential destinations the All-Star guard is targetting.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Irving “has a list of teams he’d like [the Nets] to consider on sign-and-trades, including Lakers, Clippers, Heat, Mavs and 76ers.”
ESPN Sources: If Kyrie Irving can’t reach an agreement to stay with Brooklyn, he has a list of teams he’d like them to consider on sign-and-trades, including Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, Mavs and 76ers. None of those teams have cap space to sign him without Nets’ help.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2022
Wojnarowski’s sources did caveat the links saying, “Those are teams who Irving has interest in, but he isn’t necessarily a priority for all of them.”
Putting aside how actively any of those teams are likely to pursue Irving, which ones make the most sense?
Kyrie Irving trade destinations, ranked from best to worst
- Heat
- Knicks
- Mavericks
- Clippers
- Lakers
- 76ers
If Irving wants to win another championship, his best bet is the Heat. Miami is already a regular contender with Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and company. New York is a big market desperate for title glory with a young star in RJ Barrett to build around. Being in the Eastern Conference is a huge plus given how difficult it is to simply make it through the Western Conference Playoffs.
Getting to play as a second-scorer with Luka Doncic in Dallas would be an intriguing option. The Western Conference is a concern but those two together could do damage.
The draw of Los Angeles is obvious. Joining up with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George could create a formidable new Big 3. It could also be too much of an ask for the Clippers to make that happen.
Playing with LeBron James again with the Lakers is an even bigger pipe dream for Irving. It’s also incredibly unrealistic.
James Harden plays for the 76ers. No one expects those two to reunite in 2022.