Kyrie Irving’s history can deter teams from giving him 4-year max deal, says Chris Broussard: “Hopefully nothing like the Jewish situation he was in”

Kyrie Irving is playing in the final year of his contract after the Brooklyn Nets reportedly removed their offer of a five-year max extension. Even if he walks away as an unrestricted free agent after the season ends, what teams may offer him remains to be seen.

Irving’s value may be at its highest in two years as he has been sensational for the Nets over the last month and a half. He’s a big reason why Brooklyn has surged to the second-best record in the NBA.

Chris Broussard, on “The Odd Couple” podcast, had this to say on Kyrie Irving’s potential contract next season:

“I do think a lot of front office people and owners, for that matter, will say, ‘It’s contract year. He lost his Nike deal. He knew he had to be in his best behavior.' But if I give him a four-year contract, does it go back?

"Hopefully, there’s no type of vaccination situation we have to deal with again. Hopefully, there’s nothing like the Jewish situation he was in early in the year but Kyrie had issues before that."

Broussard added:

“Taking a week off here and there, injuries, in Boston there were issues leadership-wise and he got tired playing with LeBron. Man, I’d have a hard time giving him a four-year deal.”

It’s normal for NBA players to put their best foot forward during a contract year. Irving’s long history of off-court drama, however, may not be that easy to erase even if he shows his best behavior. There’s no telling what he might do once he gets the max contract he has been asking for.

Kyrie Irving opted into the final year of his contract worth $36.9 million in the offseason as he didn’t have a ton of options. He refused to leave $30 million on the table to reportedly sign with the LA Lakers via a mid-level exception.

As an unrestricted free agent after this season, he is eligible to sign a four-year $198 million deal. The season is far from over, but there are probably teams who are considering a max deal for Irving if he remains a model citizen.

Kyrie Irving’s options as a free agent are still limited

Kyrie Irving could leave the Nets for the LA Lakers next season.

If Kyrie Irving walks away from Brooklyn, where he supposedly still wants to play, his options are limited.

Here’s Broussard on what the landscape is like for the seven-time All-Star in free agency:

“The only teams with max money next summer: Houston, the Lakers, Charlotte, Detroit, Indiana, OKC and Orlando. None of those are great situations, except maybe the Lakers.

"Kyrie, obviously, wanted to go to the Lakers this summer to some degree. They would be a threat but would they offer him a long-term, four-year deal.”

Of all the teams capable of signing Kyrie Irving to the deal he wants, the LA Lakers are the most attractive. He could reunite with LeBron James and play alongside Anthony Davis. Together, they can form a Big Three that will be as formidable as any in the league.

Russell Westbrook’s massive contract will be off the books after this season, giving GM Rob Pelinka enough cap space to sign Kyrie Irving.

Still, how Irving conducts himself in the next four or five months will determine his future in the NBA.

Here's the full "The Odd Couple" podcast