Don't forget, without Kyrie Irving, there is no Kevin Durant. Case closed. As much as an enigma as Irving is and the headaches he's caused the fan base, management and the coaching staff, he was the main recruiter bringing Durant to Brooklyn.
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Growing up a Nets fan in West Orange, New Jersey, Irving claimed the New Jersey Nets as his hometown team. Irving marveled at the Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin squad that clinched back to back NBA Finals berths in 2002 and 2003.
After starring alongside LeBron James to bring a title to his hometown of Akron, Ohio, Irving had a special motivation to bring a first Larry O'Brien trophy to Nets fans in the New York metropolitan area and Brooklyn.
After a honeymoon period during the 2019 summer, Irving has played in 103 of 226 regular season games, while the super team in Brooklyn has delivered just one playoff series win together.
Although Durant signed a four-year contract extension in the summer of 2021, if the Nets elect to allow Irving to test free agency, they run the risk of infuriating No. 7.
Contract negotiations are ongoing between Irving's camp and the Nets, but the two sides have yet to come to an agreement. Irving has a player option he can exercise before June 29 to play on a one-year option. Irving can also elect to become a free agent if contract talks fall apart in Brooklyn. While that's a possible but unlikely scenario, the Nets want to avoid it at all costs as Durant will most assuredly be unhappy with his partner in crime playing elsewhere.
While Irving is looking for a four or five-year deal, Brooklyn is likely countering in the 2-3-year range with invectives for games played and playoff benchmarks, likely even triggering a one-year team option tacked on at the end.
The public nature of these contract talks will cause unrest in Nets' World, but as much frustration as Irving has caused, the price Brooklyn will pay to let him walk will be catastrophic with the possiblity of Durant demanding a trade.
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