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Nobody in the NBA last season achieved a 50/40/90 shooting split except Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets. He is practically unguardable one-on-one because of his speed, quickness and unparalleled ball handling. Clutch time is not a problem either.
Kyrie Irving made one of the biggest shots in NBA history when he drilled a 25-footer to help LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors for the 2016 NBA Championship.
Irving is entering the prime of his career and could be headed for another productive season if not for uncertainties regarding his vaccine status. If Kyrie Irving misses half of the Brooklyn Nets’ regular-season games plus more in the playoffs, the Nets might be forced to put him on the trading block.
Although it is unlikely that Irving will be moved, here’s a look at who could be interested in trading for the All-Star point guard of the Brooklyn Nets.
Potential trade partners of the Brooklyn Nets if they decide to move on from Kyrie Irving
#3 Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a potential suitor for Kyrie Irving’s talents if the Brooklyn Nets see value in what last year's Western Conference bottom dwellers can offer. Minnesota has been trying so hard to rebuild for so many years. It seems like they are always stuck on something that has not allowed them to progress as hoped for.
Their current roster of stars such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell is not going to cut it in the West. They’ll probably sniff the last two seeds of the Western Conference playoff race, but that is most likely where they will be if they can’t find a difference-maker.
Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets is a difference-maker in so many ways. His on-court exploits are legendary and he will be the best player on the Timberwolves should Minnesota acquire him. The trio of Irving, Towns and Edwards will be a handful in the West if they can stay healthy.
In exchange for Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets could ask for Russell, Beasley and draft picks. Irving’s trade value is not at its best right now, so this could be worth the trouble.
It should be noted that a few years ago, Minnesota was rumored to be one of Irving's preferred landing spots after demanding a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Russell in tow, James Harden could truly claim the ball-handling duties without any qualms. The Nets could stagger Harden’s and Russell’s minutes so one of them will be on the floor.
D’Angelo Russell can wreak havoc on the second unit if Nash opts to bring him off the bench. He provides the Brooklyn Nets with a ton of options. Beasley will add defensive intensity and focus to a team that is full of scorers.
Also Read: What is Kyrie Irving’s Current Contract?
#2 Indiana Pacers
The Brooklyn Nets could shock Kyrie Irving and the rest of the world by trading him to the Indiana Pacers. Indiana is considered by several sports analysts as a sleeper in the Ben Simmons’ standoff with the Philadelphia 76ers. If the word on the block spreads that Kyrie Irving could possibly be traded, the Pacers just might pull the trigger and try to get him to Indiana.
As good as Malcolm Brogdon and Caris Levert are for the Indiana Pacers, none of them can bring to the table what Kyrie Irving does. Extremely very few in the league can actually match Irving’s production and clutch gene. One would have to think of the Currys and the Lillards to get a good comparison.
Indiana’s current roster is not going to bring them any closer to challenging the Milwaukee Bucks or the Brooklyn Nets. The Pacers could also opt to trade one of their two big men as part of a potential return for Kyrie Irving’s services. Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner will be significant upgrades over what the Nets have on their front line now.
For the Brooklyn Nets, any of those players would be great for them. Availability is the best ability, so they say. If they can’t have Irving in the games mentioned, they might as well get themselves a package that will help them win the championship.
Finally, the Indiana Pacers have control over all their draft picks. If they can pry a really good player with those draft picks, that would be a fair exchange given Irving’s current uncertainties.
#1 Philadelphia 76ers
Two All-Star guards with something to prove. There were rumors early in the Ben Simmons saga that the Brooklyn Nets were willing to send Kyrie Irving to Philly for Simmons, but then Kevin Durant put a stop to it. The situation in Brooklyn could become tenuous as the incoming contract extension of James Harden could be endangered. If it reaches that point, the Nets might be forced to get the best talent out there.
Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets would transform this team into a juggernaut in every sense. Sure, they would lose Irving’s scoring and playmaking, but with Harden and Durant, those concerns are more than covered. Defense is what the Nets are in dire need of, and Simmons is one of the best in the league.
Simmons’ ability to seamlessly switch from 1-4 would be invaluable. Imagine a lineup of James Harden, Simmons, Joe Harris, KD and Blake Griffin. That lineup is going to terrify the rest of the league.
The Philadelphia 76ers are waiting for a slam dunk offer that they can get for Simmons. Kyrie Irving is as high as any team can potentially get. In Irving, Philly will get exactly what they don’t have with Simmons.
Doc Rivers will have someone who can score in bunches anywhere on the court. His playmaking and ball handling will only showcase just what Joel Embiid can accomplish with someone who is a dangerous offensive threat.
Guess the Lakers players!
