Shams: Kyrie Irving opting in

[prejt]

[Stephen A. Smith] Kyrie Irving last season would conduct his own team practices after Steve Nash

A little more explanation and details would be helpful. Was it essentially a group of motivated guys staying longer to get shots up, do 1on1s and work on their games or was Kyrie really the coach that had a different set of plays? I doubt guys were really willing to do two consecutive full practices aka 4 hours in a row because of the fatigue and the wear and tear. The skillwork, 1 on 1s and shooting would make a lot of sense.

More than likely it was the former. If you look at Tatum and Brown, you see how much skilled they became from working w/ Kyrie when he was there.

[og15]

Only way this can work for the Nets is if they get another star back.

Would the Wizards consider Beal for Kyrie, a Philly pick and Cam Thomas?

Probably not but worth trying.

It's either opt in and trade or sign and trade so why would Kyrie go to the Wizards?

[RTran85]

Please retire and leave the league. I'm tired of this clown

[mademan]

I just dont see how BRK gets around it. Kyrie wants a long term deal. There are teams that are willing to give Kyrie a long term deal. Whether the Nets want to do it or not is irrelevant, imo. Kyrie's market is set by what anybody is willing to pay him, and i have no doubt there are teams out there that would give him a 4 year max if they could, out of sheer desperation like the Lakers, or idiocy like the Knicks.

It's likely gonna come down to the Nets: pay him or trade him. And ya, the trade market really isnt great (westbrook,loooooool). Tough year for the Brooklyn

[mademan]

[Stephen A. Smith] Kyrie Irving last season would conduct his own team practices after Steve Nash

A little more explanation and details would be helpful. Was it essentially a group of motivated guys staying longer to get shots up, do 1on1s and work on their games or was Kyrie really the coach that had a different set of plays? I doubt guys were really willing to do two consecutive full practices aka 4 hours in a row because of the fatigue and the wear and tear. The skillwork, 1 on 1s and shooting would make a lot of sense.

More than likely it was the former. If you look at Tatum and Brown, you see how much skilled they became from working w/ Kyrie when he was there.

Kyrie might have the biggest disconnect between how fans feel about him and how other players do. Players generally like Kyrie a lot...even in Boston when chit got bad

[zshawn10]

[Stephen A. Smith] Kyrie Irving last season would conduct his own team practices after Steve Nash

A little more explanation and details would be helpful. Was it essentially a group of motivated guys staying longer to get shots up, do 1on1s and work on their games or was Kyrie really the coach that had a different set of plays? I doubt guys were really willing to do two consecutive full practices aka 4 hours in a row because of the fatigue and the wear and tear. The skillwork, 1 on 1s and shooting would make a lot of sense.

Well and Stephen A is not the most reliable with insider information either

[Hello Brooklyn]

Only way this can work for the Nets is if they get another star back.

Would the Wizards consider Beal for Kyrie, a Philly pick and Cam Thomas?

Probably not but worth trying.

It's either opt in and trade or sign and trade so why would Kyrie go to the Wizards?

Kyrie wants his money.

DC isn't a bad spot to be.

Lakers/Clippers can't sign him outright. So what other choice does he have?

I'd rather go Wizards than the Knicks. Pressure will be so high on him there, team will suck and Thibs is a tough coach.

Otherwise maybe it can be a three team trade.

Clippers can reroute assets to get Kyrie.

[og15]

Please retire and leave the league. I'm tired of this clown

You don't have to pay attention to him then, lol

[og15]

Only way this can work for the Nets is if they get another star back.

Would the Wizards consider Beal for Kyrie, a Philly pick and Cam Thomas?

Probably not but worth trying.

It's either opt in and trade or sign and trade so why would Kyrie go to the Wizards?

Kyrie wants his money.

DC isn't a bad spot to be.

Lakers/Clippers can't sign him outright. So what other choice does he have?

I'd rather go Wizards than the Knicks. Pressure will be so high on him there, team will suck and Thibs is a tough coach.

Otherwise maybe it can be a three team trade.

Clippers can reroute assets to get Kyrie.

Wizards though? Wow, there's nothing happening there at the moment for a player who I'm assuming is trying to win. Kyrie is 30, what is he planning to accomplish there?

[Hello Brooklyn]

It's either opt in and trade or sign and trade so why would Kyrie go to the Wizards?

Kyrie wants his money.

DC isn't a bad spot to be.

Lakers/Clippers can't sign him outright. So what other choice does he have?

I'd rather go Wizards than the Knicks. Pressure will be so high on him there, team will suck and Thibs is a tough coach.

Otherwise maybe it can be a three team trade.

Clippers can reroute assets to get Kyrie.

Wizards though? Wow, there's nothing happening there at the moment for a player who I'm assuming is trying to win. Kyrie is 30, what is he planning to accomplish there?

Are we sure Kyrie is still trying to win?

I'm not so sure anymore. He might just want checks now.

Plus DC is a short train ride back to NJ where his family is.

I'm not saying it has any chance of happening. Just an idea.

[HomoSapien]

The revelation that he was running his own practices after practice is such a weird and toxic move and makes his already troubling statement about not really needing a coach even more troubling.

[Joshyjess]

Well, to misquote Forrest Gump - "Kyrie is as Kryie does!" or maybe "Kyrie is like a box of chocolates - you never know what your are going to get!"
And right now I imagine many Brooklyn fans are thinking of another FG quote that they would like to apply to him - "Run, Kyrie Run!!! (away from here).

[DusterBuster]

Most predictable ending to this experiment in history.

[og15]

Kyrie wants his money.

DC isn't a bad spot to be.

Lakers/Clippers can't sign him outright. So what other choice does he have?

I'd rather go Wizards than the Knicks. Pressure will be so high on him there, team will suck and Thibs is a tough coach.

Otherwise maybe it can be a three team trade.

Clippers can reroute assets to get Kyrie.

Wizards though? Wow, there's nothing happening there at the moment for a player who I'm assuming is trying to win. Kyrie is 30, what is he planning to accomplish there?

Are we sure Kyrie is still trying to win?

I'm not so sure anymore. He might just want checks now.

Plus DC is a short train ride back to NJ where his family is.

I'm not saying it has any chance of happening. Just an idea.

I can't make any claims to knowing what Kyrie is thinking or desires, that's for sure.

Been a tough couple of years for the Nets, all the excitement and hope and it has crashed hard, but as of now at least they certainly still have Durant, and at least there's hope for Simmons.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Although KD has publicly been supportive of KD, I would imagine that he and the FO are somewhat aligned here.

Yeah I find it hard to believe that the Nets FO would be taking a hard stance in contract negotiations with Kyrie without knowing that Durant supported that stance. I think Kyrie probably prefers to stay in Brooklyn, the Nets shudder at the idea of giving him a max contract and KD respects Kyrie's talent but probably feels like he can't rely on him to maximize the tail end of his prime.

I do think there's a framework out there for Kyrie to come to the Lakers, Russ + draft compensation goes to some third team and that third team sends role players/distressed assets to Brooklyn. Maybe its Brogdon/Turner or Rozier/Hayward, maybe its something else. But I think the Lakers might be the one team ready to give Kyrie a full max right now. Plus a Nets team with KD, the version of Ben Simmons we saw before he demanded out and some good role players could still be a really good team and have some flexibility to get the next guy to ask out like Beal or Lillard.

Very complicated- does Kyrie want to play with LeBron after forcing his way out of Cleveland?

As you mentioned, they would have to involve a third team, because I doubt there is any way Durant and Westbrook could play together again after Durant trashed him on Twitter

[og15]

Although KD has publicly been supportive of KD, I would imagine that he and the FO are somewhat aligned here.

Yeah I find it hard to believe that the Nets FO would be taking a hard stance in contract negotiations with Kyrie without knowing that Durant supported that stance. I think Kyrie probably prefers to stay in Brooklyn, the Nets shudder at the idea of giving him a max contract and KD respects Kyrie's talent but probably feels like he can't rely on him to maximize the tail end of his prime.

I do think there's a framework out there for Kyrie to come to the Lakers, Russ + draft compensation goes to some third team and that third team sends role players/distressed assets to Brooklyn. Maybe its Brogdon/Turner or Rozier/Hayward, maybe its something else. But I think the Lakers might be the one team ready to give Kyrie a full max right now. Plus a Nets team with KD, the version of Ben Simmons we saw before he demanded out and some good role players could still be a really good team and have some flexibility to get the next guy to ask out like Beal or Lillard.

Very complicated- does Kyrie want to play with LeBron after forcing his way out of Cleveland?

As you mentioned, they would have to involve a third team, because I doubt there is any way Durant and Westbrook could play together again after Durant trashed him on Twitter

I also doubt Durant wants to play with Westbrook or that any team wants to pair Simmons and Westbrook together

[CS707]

I just don't see how's he's a commodity for any team at this point. He doesn't even fit the puts butts in the seats role ala Westbrook did for a few years given that he's sure to alienate a decent portion of a fanbase.

[Bobbymcgee]

Clippers could make a run for him. Not sure if it is worth it though. Obviously George and Leonard are off the table and they don't really have picks to trade but they have a handful of pretty decent players to offer. The Nets wouldn't have to take back any bad contracts (Westbrook) and Kyrie doesn't have to end up on a mediocre team (Wizards).

[TheBoi10]

The revelation that he was running his own practices after practice is such a weird and toxic move and makes his already troubling statement about not really needing a coach even more troubling.

Maybe he was barred from formal practices in NYC like he was from games before the mandate was changed

[Synciere]

[Stephen A. Smith] Kyrie Irving last season would conduct his own team practices after Steve Nash

This is hilarious if you ask me…