It was just two months ago when Kyrie Irving said he intends to run it back with the Nets next season. "I don't really plan on going anywhere," he told reporters April 25 following their season-ending sweep to the Celtics.
Now, Irving and the Nets are reportedly at an impasse.
Does this tale sound familiar?
Talks between Irving and the Nets are stagnant, reports The Athletic's Shams Charania. With a decision on his player option due June 29, Irving may be positioning himself to once again test the open market.
The Celtics would've never made it to the NBA Finals if Irving were still around. His betrayals was one of the best developments in recent franchise history.
The Nets will likely learn a similar lesson.
"It appears both sides have serious work to do in order to find a resolution that brings Irving back to Brooklyn," Charania writes.
It doesn't take much guesswork to surmise this leak is probably coming from Irving's people. The Nets are reportedly unwilling to give Irving a long-term extension, leaving the mercurial point guard with few leverage options.
Publicizing the state of negotiations is one way to try and increase pressure.
But that strategy only works if the Nets are afraid of losing Irving. That doesn't seem to be the case. After missing a litany of games due to injuries, unexplained absences and a refusal to comply with New York City's vaccine mandate, the Nets might be tired of Irving's exhausting act.
Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks was cryptic when talking about Irving's future in May. "We're looking for guys that want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, play team basketball, and be available. That goes not only for Kyrie but everybody here," he said.
For the last three years, Irving has put himself above the Nets time and time again.
Irving's final months in Boston were a crashing descent. He was surly with the media and dismissive of his young teammates. As a capper, he sleepwalked through the semifinals against the Bucks.
Jayson Tatum may still have growing to do. But Irving's presence would only stunt him.
It's not surprising the three teams reportedly interested in Irving — the Lakers, Knicks and Clippers — are desperate dumpster fires with few other options. The Lakers are trying to hang on with an aging LeBron; the Clippers aren't sure about the health of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The Knicks are on a decent path, but they still finished eight games below .500 last season, and, well, they're the Knicks.
Irving, 30, hasn't played more than 67 games in a season since 2016-17. He's not reliable enough to build around, physically or emotionally.
History keeps repeating itself with him. The teams Irving left, the Cavaliers and Celtics, reached the Finals after he had left.
Maybe the Nets will add themselves to the list. The past is promising.
