If Push Came to Shove... (Irving Trade)

[MrDollarBills]

I'll say one thing in regards to the board conversation: I 100% agree with Prok's defense of Kyrie from a racial, generational trauma standpoint.

I'm an African American, I'm vaccinated and I strongly support the vaccine. I also strongly support the family of Henrietta Lacks, who if you don't know, you should look up sometime. The issue of public safety versus bodily autonomy is going to affect everyone differently, and some folks from our community are going to have an outsized, fear based reaction. I grant them grace, even when they are my favorite NBA player.

THAT SAID, I still believe that an Irving trade may be in our best interest, and honestly his as well. I don't say that out of anger or bitterness, I still respect Kyrie as a person as much as I ever did. It's just that our priorities don't seem to match, and and I'm no longer certain that that will change.

I'm understanding of folks from our community being scared. But I also need them to actually make some effort to do actual research and learning about how vaccines work.

It's October now and A lot of folks aren't doing that, particularly in the age 18 to 35 demographic. They're opting towards listening to horse sh*t on TikTok, or the same conspiracy nutjob nonsense Kyrie got caught liking on Instagram. I get the distrust, but listening to some random looney tune talking about Satan over career pathologists and doctors who actually know this stuff is utterly stupid and I refuse to enable it in our community. This is not the goddamn Tuskegee Experiment.

It's like talking to a brick wall to the point where I've given up on convincing my friends and cousins on it. What will be will be. That's how fed up I am.

Regarding Kyrie...I'm over it. If he wants to take this stance, he can retire man. He's putting himself before the team in terms of health and safety, and I'm under no obligation to respect that. Everything else he does in terms of humanitarianism I love and respect him for. But this? Nope.

If he chooses to retire, I'll have no problem with it. But he can't be here if he's not going to do the bare minimum.

[Openheimer]

I'll say one thing in regards to the board conversation: I 100% agree with Prok's defense of Kyrie from a racial, generational trauma standpoint.

I'm an African American, I'm vaccinated and I strongly support the vaccine. I also strongly support the family of Henrietta Lacks, who if you don't know, you should look up sometime. The issue of public safety versus bodily autonomy is going to affect everyone differently, and some folks from our community are going to have an outsized, fear based reaction. I grant them grace, even when they are my favorite NBA player.

THAT SAID, I still believe that an Irving trade may be in our best interest, and honestly his as well. I don't say that out of anger or bitterness, I still respect Kyrie as a person as much as I ever did. It's just that our priorities don't seem to match, and and I'm no longer certain that that will change.

Here, here. I totally respect Kyrie's choice if he wants to sit out the year with no pay. HIS BODY HIS CHOICE. As for the Nets, they will have to do whatever they seem fit. Take out the emotion from the equation and it's really a no-brainer for both parties.

Ben Simmons could be a great fit with Harden, Mills and Durant, actually. No one will need Simmons to put up shots and he will fortify the defense. Only issue would be if Simmons needs the ball in his hands... would having Harden allow it?

If Durant can’t get through to this guy no one will. The problem with his retirement threat the Nets trade value will be limited.

[therealbig3]

As a medical professional, I am biased. I can’t get behind 99% of the reasons people use to not get vaccinated, because I mainly go by the science and the numbers.

I find it kind of crazy how much of a spin job the Kyrie apologists are pulling here (Prokorov mainly). There’s really no good reason for Kyrie not to get it.

And as much as Prokorov wants to act otherwise, Kyrie does have a responsibility to show up to work and be available, that’s why he’s getting paid. Nets should be able to void his contract if he’s not going to be available for work because of a conscious decision to be a health risk to everyone around him.

[ecuhus1981]

If Durant can’t get through to this guy no one will. The problem with his retirement threat the Nets trade value will be limited.

He has never said he would retire if we traded him. There's a ton of op-edish conjecture journalism along around Kyrie, mostly from national folks who do not work the Nets beat and don't have reliable Intel. I choose to trust the local writers who deal with Irving on a consistent basis, none of whom have substantiated this "Nets or retirement" ultimatum. If that were the case, and I were Tsai, I'd call his bluff, and reap the tax savings from his money coming off the books that might allow us to keep Claxton, Brown and others.

Regardless, yes, his asset value is compromised for trade purposes. Still, we've seen top-20 players yield decent returns even in toxic trade demand circumstances. We won't get a Paul George type of return in trade, but we might get a Jimmy Butler level of incoming assets. Plus, he would go to a team whose city and state does not prevent him from playing un-vaccinated. If we trade him before the beginning of the season, he could even sign a max extension with the new team. Avoiding a season of docked pay (~$15mil) plus the extension (~$184mil) is almost a $200mil favor we'd be doing for Kyrie! I'm sure he'd still be bitter, but we could all move on from the drama, and that's a gift in itself.

[GTR11]

Read on Twitter

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I'll support Marks and Tsai if they'll suspend Kyrie until vaccinated. He clearly going to hurt this team with all the chaos that he brings. Politicians like Cancun Cruz will take that to another level. Keep that flat earther away until he gets his crap right.

[MGrand15]

I find it hard to believe trade talks ever got close to the point where Kyrie would threaten retirement.

If you've read Cant Knock The Hustle, one of the standout things about the Nets organization is that they've been incredibly patient and trusting with Kyrie. He would go radio silent on them and they were OK with waiting it out. When he had his shoulder issues his first year, he went shopping around for holistic alternate medicine type doctors - they trusted he would eventually get the surgery from the doctor the Nets recommended. So I doubt they ever picked up the phone and discussed trades. They most likely trusted getting together with the team would make him change his mind.

At this point though, he's threatening to miss 41 games, every single home practice, half the playoffs. That's not sustainable - especially not for a championship team. I think his future here completely depends on KD + Harden. Once they get upset about this situation - and they will - I wouldn't be shocked if we move on quickly. Whether he decides to retire or we move him for a couple of solid players - IDK.

[Karate Diop]

I think eventually Kyrie will cave... He sees to get bad information but eventually comes around.

[HardenGoat]

I see this going into the season as a forced load management on Kyrie but Tsai will have his salary available those games he misses to add another player. They just dumped Sekou to open a roster spot and free up more salary. The hope will be that the mandate will be lifted later in the season when the population meets the vaccination threshold. Buckle up this is going to be another ride but our team is deep and we will have another player joining us soon for this very reason.

[MrDollarBills]

I see this going into the season as a forced load management on Kyrie but Tsai will have his salary available those games he misses to add another player. They just dumped Sekou to open a roster spot and free up more salary. The hope will be that the mandate will be lifted later in the season when the population meets the vaccination threshold. Buckle up this is going to be another ride but our team is deep and we will have another player joining us soon for this very reason.

Sekou doesn't open up another roster spot. We now have one last two way contract spot left for guys that are already here.

I think that the Nets need to indefinitely suspend Kyrie until he makes a decision, because he's not serious about winning a championship and he's just wasting people's time with his conspiracy theories and pseudoscience nonsense.

[MrDollarBills]

I find it hard to believe trade talks ever got close to the point where Kyrie would threaten retirement.

If you've read Cant Knock The Hustle, one of the standout things about the Nets organization is that they've been incredibly patient and trusting with Kyrie. He would go radio silent on them and they were OK with waiting it out. When he had his shoulder issues his first year, he went shopping around for holistic alternate medicine type doctors - they trusted he would eventually get the surgery from the doctor the Nets recommended. So I doubt they ever picked up the phone and discussed trades. They most likely trusted getting together with the team would make him change his mind.

At this point though, he's threatening to miss 41 games, every single home practice, half the playoffs. That's not sustainable - especially not for a championship team. I think his future here completely depends on KD + Harden. Once they get upset about this situation - and they will - I wouldn't be shocked if we move on quickly. Whether he decides to retire or we move him for a couple of solid players - IDK.

The guy can't even practice. He is literally wasting precious time in the preseason where we're trying to develop chemistry.

He doesn't give a f*ck and the sooner KD and Harden wake up, the quicker he'll be out of here.

and lol @ going to holistic quack doctors for shoulder issues that required surgery. I believe everything that his aunt said reflected his true beliefs. Dude is out of mind.

[MrDollarBills]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

I'll support Marks and Tsai if they'll suspend Kyrie until vaccinated. He clearly going to hurt this team with all the chaos that he brings. Politicians like Cancun Cruz will take that to another level. Keep that flat earther away until he gets his crap right.

Agreed. If he can't practice, he shouldn't play. Tell him to stay away from the team.

He's the only one unvaccinated and had the audacity to call himself a leader. KD needs to wake up.

[HardenGoat]

I see this going into the season as a forced load management on Kyrie but Tsai will have his salary available those games he misses to add another player. They just dumped Sekou to open a roster spot and free up more salary. The hope will be that the mandate will be lifted later in the season when the population meets the vaccination threshold. Buckle up this is going to be another ride but our team is deep and we will have another player joining us soon for this very reason.

Sekou doesn't open up another roster spot. We now have one last two way contract spot left for guys that are already here.

I think that the Nets need to indefinitely suspend Kyrie until he makes a decision, because he's not serious about winning a championship and he's just wasting people's time with his conspiracy theories and pseudoscience nonsense.

So Sekou was simply traded for saving money? Is there a way to replace Kyrie using our trade exception going forward knowing he won’t be playing?

[mcscotty]

As a medical professional, I am biased. I can’t get behind 99% of the reasons people use to not get vaccinated, because I mainly go by the science and the numbers.

I find it kind of crazy how much of a spin job the Kyrie apologists are pulling here (Prokorov mainly). There’s really no good reason for Kyrie not to get it.

And as much as Prokorov wants to act otherwise, Kyrie does have a responsibility to show up to work and be available, that’s why he’s getting paid. Nets should be able to void his contract if he’s not going to be available for work because of a conscious decision to be a health risk to everyone around him.

There are many medical professionals refusing the vaccine. Roughly falls in line with stats of the general population. These were the people on the front lines saving lives when little was known about the disease. A time when it was assumed to be much worse than it is. Brave people who put their lives on the line to help others. Now they are being discarded and told they can't work. Most of them have natural immunity. It's politics, profits, and propaganda pushing the agenda in America.

[Born_Ready]

We all know good and well, life is bigger than basketball for Kyrie. If I had to bet he is not going to budge on his stance to stay unvaccinated.

My brother and I were talking about this the other night - if Kobe was still here, and vaccinated, would Kyrie still be so determined to stand for what he feels is right? Because we know if Kobe said do it, Kyrie probably would. Just a random observation.

I’m curious to how long the team allows this to go on before it’s an even bigger distraction for the teams aspirations. Personally, I don’t see him caving, but I also thought the Yanks would get a W tonight, so what the he|| do I know?

[harlem_ball]

I'll say one thing in regards to the board conversation: I 100% agree with Prok's defense of Kyrie from a racial, generational trauma standpoint.

I'm an African American, I'm vaccinated and I strongly support the vaccine. I also strongly support the family of Henrietta Lacks, who if you don't know, you should look up sometime. The issue of public safety versus bodily autonomy is going to affect everyone differently, and some folks from our community are going to have an outsized, fear based reaction. I grant them grace, even when they are my favorite NBA player.

THAT SAID, I still believe that an Irving trade may be in our best interest, and honestly his as well. I don't say that out of anger or bitterness, I still respect Kyrie as a person as much as I ever did. It's just that our priorities don't seem to match, and and I'm no longer certain that that will change.

Here, here. I totally respect Kyrie's choice if he wants to sit out the year with no pay. HIS BODY HIS CHOICE. As for the Nets, they will have to do whatever they seem fit. Take out the emotion from the equation and it's really a no-brainer for both parties.

Ben Simmons could be a great fit with Harden, Mills and Durant, actually. No one will need Simmons to put up shots and he will fortify the defense. Only issue would be if Simmons needs the ball in his hands... would having Harden allow it?

If Durant can’t get through to this guy no one will. The problem with his retirement threat the Nets trade value will be limited.

A pessimistic outlook. At the least, a struggling team will take a chance on Kyrie and dump salary at the same time. Win/Win

[MrDollarBills]

As a medical professional, I am biased. I can’t get behind 99% of the reasons people use to not get vaccinated, because I mainly go by the science and the numbers.

I find it kind of crazy how much of a spin job the Kyrie apologists are pulling here (Prokorov mainly). There’s really no good reason for Kyrie not to get it.

And as much as Prokorov wants to act otherwise, Kyrie does have a responsibility to show up to work and be available, that’s why he’s getting paid. Nets should be able to void his contract if he’s not going to be available for work because of a conscious decision to be a health risk to everyone around him.

There are many medical professionals refusing the vaccine. Roughly falls in line with stats of the general population. These were the people on the front lines saving lives when little was known about the disease. A time when it was assumed to be much worse than it is. Brave people who put their lives on the line to help others. Now they are being discarded and told they can't work. Most of them have natural immunity. It's politics, profits, and propaganda pushing the agenda in America.

dude get the f*ck off of here with this antivax crap. There are not "many" medical professionals refusing the vaccines, most doctors and nurses are vaccinated nationwide because they have to deal with idiots like you in ICUs.

My sister is a nurse who was on the front lines last year when our area here got hit hard and people were dying in droves, working in the covid unit here at a major hospital in NJ. I feared for her life every day but thankfully she made it out unscathed. Also, she's been fully vaccinated since January and got the booster shot last week and is PERFECTLY FINE. Why? Because she takes science seriously in deals with facts.

The only propaganda being pushed is lunatic antivaxxers coming on here trying to sell their snake oil and lies.

[Prokorov]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

I'll support Marks and Tsai if they'll suspend Kyrie until vaccinated. He clearly going to hurt this team with all the chaos that he brings. Politicians like Cancun Cruz will take that to another level. Keep that flat earther away until he gets his crap right.

Agreed. If he can't practice, he shouldn't play. Tell him to stay away from the team.

He's the only one unvaccinated and had the audacity to call himself a leader. KD needs to wake up.

He is a leader and the ultimate team player. its why his teammates past and present love him.

He does all the things they cant do or arent willing to do because of media and fan scrutiny. he isnt a slave and shouldnt be a slave. It his choice. The nets and his team support him. as they should.

[harlem_ball]

All jokes aside: remember, peeps, Kyrie Irving is not at fault here. It's not his fault COVID came to existence. As a fanbase you pivot around his decision and move on. Kyrie's not a jerk. He played his arse off when eligible and remains a top talent. I'd trade him for KAT, Simmons and any other disgruntled top player if I felt I needed to trade him. And again... Patty Mills is a heck of a player to replace him.

[Prokorov]

We all know good and well, life is bigger than basketball for Kyrie. If I had to bet he is not going to budge on his stance to stay unvaccinated.

My brother and I were talking about this the other night - if Kobe was still here, and vaccinated, would Kyrie still be so determined to stand for what he feels is right? Because we know if Kobe said do it, Kyrie probably would. Just a random observation.

I’m curious to how long the team allows this to go on before it’s an even bigger distraction for the teams aspirations. Personally, I don’t see him caving, but I also thought the Yanks would get a W tonight, so what the he|| do I know?

the team will allow it all year. because 100% of his team and coaches are 100% behind because the dude is 100% in the right.

[Prokorov]

Here, here. I totally respect Kyrie's choice if he wants to sit out the year with no pay. HIS BODY HIS CHOICE. As for the Nets, they will have to do whatever they seem fit. Take out the emotion from the equation and it's really a no-brainer for both parties.

Ben Simmons could be a great fit with Harden, Mills and Durant, actually. No one will need Simmons to put up shots and he will fortify the defense. Only issue would be if Simmons needs the ball in his hands... would having Harden allow it?

If Durant can’t get through to this guy no one will. The problem with his retirement threat the Nets trade value will be limited.

A pessimistic outlook. At the least, a struggling team will take a chance on Kyrie and dump salary at the same time. Win/Win

i would rather 0 games of kyrie then 82 of simmons. simmons is dog trash.

and KD doesnt need to "get through" to kyrie. This is exactly why he teamed up with Kyrie and they are so tight. player empowerment. not slaves.