Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving has informed the team he would like to be traded ahead of Thursday’s deadline, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Irving stated that if a trade is not found, he will leave the Nets in free agency at the end of the season, Charania added. Barring a contract extension, Irving will be an unrestricted free agent, eligible to sign anywhere without the Nets being due compensation.
Irving and the Nets have talked about a new deal this season, but none has been reached, leading to the trade request, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Irving’s agent, Shetellia Irving, recently told Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report that Irving was hopeful of reaching a long-term extension with the Nets.
“Around Kyrie and staying with the Nets? I have reached out to the Nets regarding this,” his agent Shetellia Irving told Haynes. “We have had no significant conversations to date. The desire is to make Brooklyn home, with the right type of extension, which means the ball is in the Nets’ court to communicate now if their desire is the same.”
Irving’s trade request follows one from star forward Kevin Durant during the offseason. Durant opted to stay with the Nets and there is a sense Irving could do the same.
Irving, 30, is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds, shooting 49 percent from the field and 37 percent on 3-pointers in 40 games. He was suspended briefly earlier this season for tweeting out a link to ant-Semitic material.
The No. 1 overall pick in 2011, Irving also requested a trade from the Cavaliers following the 2017 season.
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