Is Kyrie Irving to the Sixers a legitimate trade possibility?!
...well, no. Probably not.
The idea was floated Thursday afternoon ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft as the basketball world heated up amid multiple reports of unrest in Brooklyn. Irving and the Nets are reportedly at an impasse over his contract situation, and that reportedly has Kevin Durant unsure of his future in Brooklyn as well. It's all very dramatic and gossipy, which is extremely fun.
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READ: Sixers among teams on Irving's 'list' if he doesn't stay with Nets
And as all this news trickled out Thursday, one nugget stood out in Philadelphia: a list of teams that Irving reportedly wanted Brooklyn to explore sign-and-trade situations with in case the two sides can't reach an agreement. The six-team list included the Sixers, a mind-boggling possibility for many reasons.
But on Friday morning, after the dust of the NBA Draft had settled and with days yet until NBA free agency begins, it sounds like that was more optionality bluster than anything.
ESPN insider and scoopsmaster Adrian Wojnarowski appeared on ESPN's 'Get Up' to provide more context around the Irving list, and he made it sound highly unlikely the enigmatic superstar will be coming to Philly:
NBA
"With [Kyrie] I don't think you say, 'That won't happen, that'll never happen.' But I think that list in terms of Dallas, Philadelphia, the Clippers - I don't think there's interest there."
Yep, makes sense.
Considering a big reported reason for the dissolution of the Nets' Big Three with Irving, Durant, and James Harden was a disconnect between Irving and Harden, it wouldn't exactly make a ton of sense for Irving to be actively seeking a reunion in Philly.
This is probably Irving's camp just trying to gin up as much buzz and interest as possible among big-name, big-market, high-activity front offices in order to generate leverage in negotiations. It's neat that the Sixers were included in that group, but the Sixers were probably the easiest name on that list to see through.
I'll be shocked if Irving is on a team other than the Nets or the Lakers when next season begins.
Now, if Irving decides to head West and Durant asks out of Brooklyn? Then let's talk star hunting. But that's a conversation for another day.