NBA teams think Nets are open to sign-and-trade for Kyrie Irving?

Rival teams believe the Nets would be open to making a sign-and-trade involving Kyrie Irving this offseason, Ian Begley of SNYtv writes. Irving could turn down a $36.5M player option to enter unrestricted free agency.

The 30-year-old appeared in 29 games this season, averaging 27.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per contest. He missed much of the season because of New York City’s vaccine requirement, which prevented the team from building the chemistry needed to succeed.

Finding a sign-and-trade package for Irving could be challenging, but Brooklyn could entertain bringing in competitive players to surround Kevin Durant. Begley reports the Nets will target high-character players this offseason. The team also acquired Seth Curry, Andre Drummond (free agent) and Ben Simmons in a deal headlined by James Harden in February.

Here are some other notes from the Atlantic:

• Blake Murphy of SportsNet puts together a Raptors free-agency primer, highlighting the team’s free agents, draft picks and general outlook. Toronto is coming off a season where it finished with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference at 48-34. The team lost in six games to Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.
• Raptors star Pascal Siakam discussed receiving All-NBA honors for the second straight season, as relayed by Michael Grange of SportsNet. Siakam made the All-NBA Third Team this season, averaging 22.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. “Going through what I’ve been through as a person and as a basketball player it makes me grow,” Siakam said as part of a larger quote. “And knowing how fast things can change, I also understand the responsibility that I have to keep the pressure on, keep my foot on the gas, knowing that there’s always [new] levels I can get to.”
• Fred Katz of The Athletic examines the Knicks’ offseason in his latest mailbag. New York missed the playoffs this season after an impressive 2020=21 campaign. The team owns the No. 11 pick in the draft and has starting center Mitchell Robinson entering unrestricted free agency.