Report: Kyrie Irving and Nets at impasse; Lakers, Knicks, Clippers interested

The “Will they?“, “Won’t They?“, “Won’t they?“, “Won’t They?“, “Will they?” saga between Kyrie Irving and the Nets has taken another turn.

Shams Charania of The Athletic:

multiple sources tell The Athletic that conversations about Irving’s future have gone stagnant between him and the Nets. An impasse currently exists among the parties that clears the way for the seven-time All-Star to consider the open marketplace, those sources said.

The Lakers, Knicks and Clippers are expected to be among the interested suitors if Irving heads elsewhere, multiple sources tell The Athletic.

Irving has a $36,934,550 player option for next season. If he wants to stay in Brooklyn but isn’t getting the long-term offer he desires from the Nets, he could force their hand by opting in. Of course, they could trade him anywhere without his consent. But his unrelenting drama has drastically reduced his trade value, and he could nuke it completely by threatening to retire if dealt. Maybe Irving and Brooklyn wouldn’t find common ground over the next year, but opting in would buy Irving time – and secure a high salary for another season.

Irving could also explore free agency – realistically, before his June 29 option deadline. That’d allow opt-in-and-trade possibilities, which could be crucial in the Lakers or Clippers landing him. Not only do those Los Angeles teams lack cap space, they’re so far over the cap, they’d have difficulty ducking the hard cap that’d be triggered by acquiring Irving in a sign-and-trade. An opt-in-and-trade would not trigger the hard cap.

A team must send out at least $29,467,640 if trading for Irving on his player-option salary. Contracted Lakers players besides LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook combine