The Brooklyn Nets announced Thursday that guard Kyrie Irving won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards due to right calf pain. He has emerged as the central focus of the latest NBA trade rumors.
Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Irving told the Nets Friday that he wants out of Brooklyn before Thursday’s trade deadline.
“After failing to negotiate terms on a long-term contract extension with the organization, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has issued a trade request, sources told ESPN on Friday,” Wojnarowski wrote.
He was not on the initial injury report Friday. Still, as rumors surrounding his future in Brooklyn grow before next week’s trade deadline, Irving will miss his third game of the season due to injury, excluding the eight games he was sidelined for in November due to suspension. Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds this season.
Also missing the game Saturday will be Ben Simmons, as he deals with soreness in his left knee.
“I think you have a responsibility as a basketball player, like I do as a coach,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said before Saturday’s game. “I show up, I do my job every single day, that’s what I signed up for, and that’s my expectation for one through seventeen.”
On Friday, ESPN reported that the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns have already expressed interest in trade discussions involving Irving. There is no list of teams Irving prefers, but his market is small, and it’s clear he hopes to be acquired by a team to sign a long-term extension.
He is currently in the final year of a deal that pays him $36.5 million. He has been seeking an extension that could max out at $198.5 million for four years until June 30. Irving can sign a two-year, $78.6 million extension with his new team until June 30 if he is traded.
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