wco81 wrote:Can't blame him for wanting a full extension without stipulations.
He's been playing lights out for a couple of months but that play may not be sustainable. Remember, he didn't play that well in the series against Boston last April.
Even without the drama, a 5-year max extension may not be a slam dunk. He's a smaller guard who's over 30 now. Remember Isaiah Thomas wanting them to back up the trucks before he got injured? He had an almost MVP level season for the Celtics that year.
Or someone like Kemba.
For both their extensions, people brought up histories of smaller guards on the wrong side of 30 not sustaining their performance well into their 30s.
Now Kyrie is bigger and way more athletic than either of them but he's still a 6-2 guard who's going to turn 31 in less than 2 months. He's had injuries but those were in his mid 20s? He's going to be more vulnerable to injury risk impacting his game than a taller player.
His main value is in shot creation so he needs to retain peak athleticism, moreso than players like Lowry, Conley, CP3. Those older guards have all dealt with injuries. Still effective in some games but their availability has decreased because of age and injuries.
I am not against moving him, in fact, he has not done anything for the Nets in terms of winning a ring. Phoenix is a team of interest because I am wondering how both teams can facilitate a trade that would keep both teams competitive and playing at a high level. Suns have Johnson, Ayton and Paul. Would a haul of Clax, Kyrie and Simmons for those three work? How would the balance tip? Also, the Nets would need to redevelop chemistry again and we have been enough of a cluster ****. I don't know. Ayton would assuredly give us a big body down low but we lose 27 PPG. Would Phoenix be interested in doing a Booker/Ayton/Crowder for Kyrie's expiring, Claxton, Simmons and future picks? Phoenix is an experiment that has not worked out and the Suns should look for change as well. Nets are on the winning side so it wouldn't make sense to rebuild.