Potential trade destinations for Kyrie Irving include Lakers, Suns

What does Irving want, besides leaving the Brooklyn Nets? His main goal seems to be a maximum extension, given the recent request for a long-term extension from Brooklyn, which came from his agent/stepmother. 

Reportedly, the Nets did offer Irving an extension, but it came with certain stipulations the he wouldn't agree to. Perhaps Brooklyn was reluctant to guarantee big money to Irving long-term after he missed 134 out of a possible 277 games in his four-year Nets career, due to injuries, personal reasons, refusing to get vaccinated and sharing anti-Semitic propaganda.

The Los Angeles Lakers are an obvious destination. They've got Russell Westbrook's expiring salary to send back, though they'd need to also take on a player like Seth Curry or Joe Harris to make the deal legal. They have two future first-round picks to send back to Brooklyn. They love having a roster full of injury-prone veteran All-Stars. And trading for Irving lets them acquire his Bird rights, which lets the Lakers give him a maximum extension without making moves to clear cap space.

The problem is that for Brooklyn, it's not that great of a return. And it involves reuniting Westbrook with Kevin Durant, who hurt and angered Westbrook when he signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2016. One reason Durant left the Thunder was that he didn't like the way Westbrook played on offense. It's not as if Westbrook has particularly modified his game since then.

Are the Lakers' picks in 2027 and 2029 enticing enough that Brooklyn will be OK with Irving forcing his way to his preferred destination, just like James Harden did last year? We think they won't do it, especially since that trade stuck them with another high-priced player who can't or won't shoot threes, Ben Simmons.

Where else might Irving go? Every time there's a superstar looking for a new home, the Miami Heat are in play. Could the Heat package Kyle Lowry with 2022 first-rounder Nikola "No, Not That Guy" Jovic with picks? The Heat love giving older point guards big extensions: Just ask Lowry! Or Goran Dragic. They can also trade a first-rounder this year, so Brooklyn won't have to wait until 2027 to collect.

One possibility is the Phoenix Suns, who have a new owner taking over very soon. With Devin Booker returning soon from a groin strain, could they consider swapping Chris Paul and his partially-guaranteed deal for the next two seasons for Irving? It's probably too reckless for two teams that still have ambitions for title contention.

A long-shot choice that could make sense? The Dallas Mavericks, who have been under pressure from fans, pundits and public art to get help for Luka Doncic. They've got the expiring contracts of Christian Wood and Dwight Powell to use, or perhaps Brooklyn is interested in a reunion with Spencer Dinwiddie, or an intriguing youngster like Jaden Hardy. Texas even banned vaccine mandates, which Irving will love.

Dallas would have to decide that Doncic and Irving are a fit, and that Irving is worth sacrificing assets and their summer 2024 cap space. 

Our best prediction? Irving stays put. Maybe he sits out, maybe he plays, but Brooklyn has resisted giving Irving what he wants all year. We've guessing owner Joe Tsai doesn't start giving in now.