Kyrie Irving

The latest stop in the Kyrie Irving roadshow appears to be Texas, after the Brooklyn Nets reportedly agreed to trade the point guard to the Dallas ...

At the age of 23, he is already a four-time All-Star and is averaging 33.4 points per game this season, the second best figure in the league. This season he is averaging 27.1 points per game and was named a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Doncic, meanwhile, is considered one of the most talented young players in the league. He is an eight-time All-Star and averaged a career-high 27.4 points per game last season, albeit with reduced playing time. Durant’s future in Brooklyn has also been under scrutiny and it remains to be seen what effect Irving’s departure will have on the future Hall of Famer. He has suffered from injuries, missed large parts of last season due to his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and [was suspended by the Nets](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/03/kyrie-irving-suspended-brooklyn-nets-antisemitic-beliefs) this season after posting a link to an antisemitic film and then initially refusing to apologize.

Kyrie ponders 'nuclear option' amid trade rumours rivals are happy to 'pay more than Nets'

Irving did not attend the game, but his image was shown on the overhead scoreboard. Kyrie Irving is prepared to sit out the rest of the season if need be. Irving demanded a trade on Friday, preferably before the NBA trade deadline this Friday (AEDT). “Now whether that’s a four-year guarantee or whatever, it remains to be seen. The end result could end up the same if Irving is dealt by Thursday. Nets star Kyrie Irving could sit out the rest of the season if not traded,

Irving's stint with the Brooklyn Nets is ending after multiple controversies, including a suspension over an antisemitic social media post and missing games ...

However, The Athletic The city later expanded exemptions to its vaccine mandate. In his first season, he missed dozens of games due to a [shoulder injury](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28745597/kyrie-irving-season-ending-shoulder-surgery-nets-looking-big-picture). [The Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-dallas-mavericks-nba-sports-basketball-04a54cb3ecf504152a3dd714d064d22a), [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35594375/sources-nets-trading-star-guard-kyrie-irving-mavericks) and [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/05/sports/basketball/kyrie-irving-trade-mavericks.html). [trade request](https://theathletic.com/4154256/2023/02/03/kyrie-irving-nets-trade-request/).

And Luka Doncic is getting another All-Star to help him in Dallas. The Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets agreed Sunday on a blockbuster trade: Irving — the super- ...

And he spoke at length of how highly he thinks of Doncic's game, after the Mavs star had a 41-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist masterpiece. Irving signed as a free agent while Durant joined the Nets on a sign-and-trade with Golden State. Irving is, for now, scheduled to become a free agent after the season. He wasn't with the Nets for their game Saturday, and by Sunday afternoon, his time in Brooklyn appeared to be at an end. That was one of many drama-filled sagas that marked Irving's time with the Nets. It will become complete once the teams have a call with the NBA, which is standard for all trades.

The Brooklyn Nets have reportedly agreed to trade Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, according to multiple reports. The Nets reportedly will receive ...

He was not with Brooklyn for its game Saturday night, with the team saying he was injured and that he was excused from being at the arena. [February 5, 2023] The Nets reportedly will receive Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and future picks in the deal.

The Nets are trading Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris to the Mavericks in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 ...

He is also eligible to sign a two-year, $83 million extension with the Mavericks until June 30. Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game this season on excellent efficiency. ET, ESPN), a source said. The Mavs can now wait to see how the rest of the season goes before deciding on a new deal for Irving. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has a long history with Irving, going back to their Nike days together, and Dallas coach Jason Kidd was a proponent of the trade. The Nets had been looking at three-way deals involving the Lakers before discussions with the Mavericks came together fairly quickly Sunday afternoon, sources said.

With Kyrie Irving now traded to the Dallas Mavericks, his Brooklyn Nets tenure is being eulogized across the NBA world — and former Boston Celtics ...

Fast forward to a year after Irving’s departure from Boston, and you’ll see another team that made it to at least the conference finals. While it’s taken Cleveland a while to get back to relevancy, it was James’ departure that collapsed the Cavs. When Kyrie forced the Cleveland Cavaliers front office’s hand with his trade demand, the team was still able to make the following season’s Finals being led by LeBron James and a host of role players.

LeBron's cryptic tweet as biggest 'obstacle' to Lakers' blockbuster Kyrie trade revealed.

through the summer of 2025, with a player option in the 2024-25 season. Stein reported in his latest newsletter that L.A. or did he hold back on unreservedly vouching for Irving because the soon-to-be leading scorer in NBA history knew deep down that no one really can?” he wrote. [the Dallas Mavericks trading for Brooklyn Nets All-Star guard and former teammate Kyrie Irving](https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nba/nba-2023-dallas-mavericks-trade-for-kyrie-irving-package-players-sent-to-brooklyn-nets-picks-reaction-trade-deadline/news-story/b809adad1b1b35cb8b036a14d19054be). [Dan Woike of ](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2023-02-04/los-angeles-lakers-new-orleans-pelicans-nba-game-recap) [The Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2023-02-04/los-angeles-lakers-new-orleans-pelicans-nba-game-recap), who claimed on Sunday that there was growing “pessimism” that the Lakers would successfully trade for Irving. [The Athletic’s ](https://theathletic.com/4156847/2023/02/05/kyrie-irving-lakers-trade-obstacles/) [Sam Amick reported](https://theathletic.com/4156847/2023/02/05/kyrie-irving-lakers-trade-obstacles/) that there was a “significant obstacle” in the early stages of talks between the Lakers and Nets. As Kyle Goon, a Lakers beat reporter put it, the “biggest question” for the Lakers now is whether the failed Irving bid could lead to any fractions in the locker room — and more specifically whether it could see Westbrook moved on before the upcoming deadline. [How ‘high-risk’ all-in move exposed brutal truth behind ‘disrespectful’ NBA mural](https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nba/nba-trade-deadline-2023-dallas-mavericks-trade-options-rumours-luka-doncic-usage-rate-statistics-mural/news-story/fd90397ec79599ccf717fc608c5fcdd9) [Mavs eye MORE trades after Kyrie gamble... “Irving is expected to seek a four-year maximum contract, with the Lakers preferring a two-year deal, aligning with the two years remaining on James’ deal,” Woike wrote. Stein expected the Lakers to strike a three-team deal with the Spurs and Nets that would see Irving reunite with James and Brooklyn get a combination of veterans and future draft picks. [ESPN’s ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUj_u1uOMUg) [front office insider Bobby Marks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUj_u1uOMUg), even the two first-round picks were not going to be the slam dunk in trade talks like the Lakers may have hoped. Although Stein wrote that “any measure of hesitancy” from L.A.’s side to get in a bidding war would be “understandable” given the baggage Irving brings with him.

Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai wasn't about to bow to the commands of wantaway superstar Kyrie Irving. Irving rocked the NBA landscape when his trade demand ...

Irving had reportedly threatened to sit out the rest of the season if he was not traded, according to Stephen A. “Kyrie Irving is prepared to sit out the rest of the season if need be,” Smith said before the Mavericks trade was locked in. After becoming the ninth player in NBA history to join the 50-40-90 club and the fourth to do so while averaging 25 points a game, Irving refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19, preventing him from playing or practising with the Nets for a two-month stretch. Irving had reportedly threatened to sit out the remainder of the season if his demand to be traded was not met. Landing in California to be alongside “The King” was said to be the top priority for Irving, but Tsai wasn’t having it. Irving rocked the NBA landscape when his trade demand to get out of Brooklyn was revealed.

And Luka Doncic is getting another All-Star to help him in Dallas. The Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets agreed Sunday on a blockbuster trade: Irving — the super- ...

Irving signed as a free agent while Durant joined the Nets on a sign-and-trade with Golden State. Irving is, for now, scheduled to become a free agent after the season. That was one of many drama-filled sagas that marked Irving’s time with the Nets. “He’s used to seeing so many different defenses, so many different roles that he’s played, I’m sure, overseas. He wasn't with the Nets for their game Saturday, and by Sunday afternoon, his time in Brooklyn appeared to be at an end. He wouldn’t get vaccinated against COVID-19 and, because of New York City workplace rules, had to miss most of Brooklyn’s home games last season. “I think first, we’ve got to discuss just how long he’s been playing professional basketball. It will become complete once the teams have a call with the NBA, which is standard for all trades. Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season. The Mavericks play at Utah on Monday night. And I think for Dallas, they got a big-time star to go with the one they’ve got.” I think that’s important to do.

Adding Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant hasn't led to a conference finals berth, much less a championship. After meeting Irving's trade request, the Nets are ...

[asked for a trade in June](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/sports/basketball/kevin-durant-trade-demand-nets.html) and was given permission to seek one, but couldn’t find one to which the Nets would agree. [some irony](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/sports/basketball/nets-disastrous-deal-with-the-celtics-keeps-getting-worse.html) to the Nets’ being eliminated by the Celtics. The [Boston Celtics swept the Nets](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/sports/basketball/nets-eliminated-celtics-sweep.html) out of the first round of the 2022 playoffs. In 2013, the Nets gave up five players, three first-round picks and the option to swap another first-round pick for four players, including [Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/29/sports/the-nets-go-big-bold-and-old.html). It’s possible that once he’s healthy he will lead the Nets to a strong finish this season. Do the sources know the information? And so, for the past three and a half years, the Nets firmly set their sights on a championship that, they believed, the arrivals of Irving and Durant had put within reach. They gave up a king’s ransom to do it: The package included three first-round picks, four pick swaps and Jarrett Allen, a talented young center who has found success, including an All-Star selection, in Cleveland. In return, the Nets will receive two players, a distant first-round draft pick and multiple second-round picks. “I’m consistently in the lineup, that helps,” Irving said. Having superstar talent is the only surefire way to win a championship in the N.B.A. After meeting Irving’s trade request, the Nets are once again in a state of uncertainty.

Kyrie Irving is headed to Dallas, just days after he requested a trade out of Brooklyn.

'All this for 74 games': How NBA superstars' title dream imploded… and left 'inept' Nets at crossroads.

Durant holds the secrets to what their next move will be. He is one of the handful of greatest players on the planet. Anything other than a complete commitment, Marks needs to see what’s out there now, because the next four days could well be one of the remarkable auctions of all time among NBA contenders if Durant is truly in play. Now that unfaithful sidekick has fled the foxhole, has been shipped off to Dallas, and this 74-game experiment will forever be known as a one of basketball’s all-time cautionary tales. But that, as with so much of the Durant/Irving partnership, was mere mirage. Both of whom, it should be noted, were terrific this year; they were both named starters in the All-Star Game. Later, the two of them would assume bonus titles as Marks’ volunteer deputies and a ceaseless series of stupidities followed. So now the Nets need to ask the hard question of their franchise centrepiece: Does he want to keep centrepiecing? The Nets need to know, once and for all, where Durant’s heart is. It’s kind of like learning that the original run of “The Honeymooners” lasted for only 39 episodes. He would come to Brooklyn and not Manhattan. Kevin Durant wanted to come to Brooklyn.

Rarely does a franchise lose a generational talent like Kyrie Irving and get better. But could that be the case for Brooklyn?

[John Collins](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/dayron-sharpe-playerhttps://www.foxsports.com/nba/john-collins-player)? [2023 NBA trade grades: How did Mavericks, Nets do in Kyrie Irving deal?](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2023-nba-trade-deadline-grades) [Mavericks, Mark Cuban gamble big with Kyrie Irving trade](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/mavericks-mark-cuban-gamble-big-with-kyrie-irving-trade) [When will LeBron pass Kareem? Follow him on Twitter [@YaronWeitzman](https://twitter.com/YaronWeitzman). [Cam Thomas](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/cameron-thomas-player) and/or [Day’Ron Sharpe](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/dayron-sharpe-player), though, and they might have something. [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers-team), and see if they can find another upgrade. Maybe they’ll see if someone is interested in [Ben Simmons](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/ben-simmons-player), though that’s doubtful. [Brooklyn Nets’](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/brooklyn-nets-team) basketball staff gathered in the team’s training center. Could that be enough to get one of the [Toronto Raptors’](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/toronto-raptors-team) veterans? More notable, though, was the Nets’ ability to pry away from the Mavs an unprotected 2029 first-round pick (which just so happens to be two years after [Luka Dončić's](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/luka-doncic-player) current contract expires). ["glaring"](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28493556/kyrie-irving-says-team-needs-glaring-nets-fall-76ers) need to add more talent. He was a few months from free agency and, in his eyes, the Nets’ refusal to gift him a four-year, max extension was a reason to go now. Or the time he promoted an antisemitic film on his social media accounts and then, in an even more galling display, not only refused to apologize but also repeatedly defended the action.

The Nets need to know, once and for all, where Durant's heart is. Is he in it for the long term?

Anything other than a complete commitment, Marks needs to see what’s out there now, because the next four days could well be one of the remarkable auctions of all time among NBA contenders if Durant is truly in play. The Nets need to know, once and for all, where Durant’s heart is. Is he in it for the long term? He is one of the handful of greatest players on the planet. Now that unfaithful sidekick has fled the foxhole, has been shipped off to Dallas, and this 74-game experiment will forever be known as a one of basketball’s all-time cautionary tales. Later, the two of them would assume bonus titles as Marks’ volunteer deputies and a ceaseless series of stupidities followed.

Irving, 30, joins MVP candidate Luka Dončić in Dallas, where they'll form the league's most ball-dominant backcourt.

When asked on Saturday if Irving could turn the Lakers into title contenders, James said, " [That's a duh question](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-says-its-obvious-kyrie-irving-could-turn-lakers-into-a-title-contender-thats-a-duh-question/)." That is, unless Durant demands they trade him, too ( [MVP candidate Luka Dončić](https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-feb-3-2023-edition) in Dallas, where they'll form the league's most ball-dominant backcourt. They ended up with the Wild stat: Irving and Kevin Durant signed with the Nets in the summer of 2019. If Brooklyn didn't make a deal, they risked losing him for nothing in free agency.

The Nets traded Irving for Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and multiple draft picks on Sunday.

Kyrie and Luka fire though. I like Kyrie to the Mavs. He wasn't the only one surprised, as multiple other players -- current and former -- expressed their surprise on social media. Wow!" "The NBA gonna NBA.. [February 5, 2023] "(Love) this League." "When @ShamsCharania says it's time to go you pack your bags," Dinwiddie tweeted. After Charania broke the news, Dinwiddie -- who played for the Nets from 2016-21 -- was one of the first to comment on the situation. He is doing so while shooting 48.6% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc. The 30-year-old brings plenty of experience with an NBA championship under his belt ( [Kyrie Irving](/nba/players/1779901/kyrie-irving/) is officially leaving the [Brooklyn Nets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BKN/brooklyn-nets/) to [join forces with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kyrie-irving-trade-mavericks-land-nets-all-star-for-spencer-dinwiddie-dorian-finney-smith-first-round-pick/).

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have a number of questions to answer to reach their full potential as a duo.

With Irving, Doncic and Wood on the same team, the Mavericks are probably going to have to run up the scoreboard to compete with the best of the best. [Here](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/best-players-available-2023-nba-free-agency-list/h6zhedelmmhp0bqzwrxu4gpg) are some of the notable players who will be free agents in the offseason. [could create over $30 million in cap space](https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1622609275926327296). [per NBA insider Marc Stein](https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1622407277352214530). On court, Irving and Doncic have the potential to be nearly unstoppable offensively, but the Mavericks could run into some issues with the two of them defensively. In four and a half seasons with the Nets, Irving played in 143 of a possible 278 regular-season games. Irving will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Irving has proven that he can thrive alongside a player like Doncic, and him still being in his prime means Doncic won't have to do as much of the heavy lifting. [LeBron's instant reaction](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/lebron-james-twitter-kyrie-irving-trade-maybe-its-me/lgogvw0vadqd2tvxon84v9op) [Full trade details](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/kyrie-irving-trade-details-nets-mavericks-blockbuster/y4ifob5gplufixvjkywrfbkj) That's based on a relatively small sample size of 40 games, but he posted equally absurd splits [in 2020-21](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/202681/shots-dash?Season=2020-21) when he joined the exclusive 50-40-90 club and made the All-NBA Third Team. He's at his best when he has the ball in his hands, but he has experience playing next to other ball-dominant stars such as LeBron James, James Harden and Kevin Durant.

The NBA's conspiracy theorist-in-chief has forced his way off another team after they (and pal Kevin Durant) stood by him through a ton of nonsense.

He went to Jewish community centers, gave talks at his alma mater, had a child, tried to stay in shape and huddled near the phone, hoping a team would reach out. Kyrie is one of the best, so he gets to be a huge pain in the ass, over and over until there’s not even a remote possibility that he can access that level of transcendence on the court. And now KD and the Nets are left to pick up the pieces. In the second year, though, he refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19, for reasons that A while after he requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics, [he called LeBron](https://www.nba.com/news/kyrie-irving-called-lebron-james-apologize) and apologized for how it all went down, saying that he now understood the burden of leadership. And then the season started, he donned the uniform and he was good at basketball, so everyone threw up their hands and admitted that you couldn’t really know anything about this guy. Kyrie tells people he wants to be a Boston Celtic for life, then he almost immediately leaves the team in free agency and signs with the Brooklyn Nets. In Brooklyn, he began to really lose the plot. Now, this is the part where I write about the good things that Kyrie has done on account of his natural inclination for being a pain in the ass. Former President Obama, bored at home and thirsting for NBA action, had to personally intervene to get the bubble back on track. He was a shit-hot boy from the Balkans and the world was his oyster. The main way to make that happen is to replace some of these role players with basketball wizards, the kind of guy who can make the magic while Luka rests, or is having an off night, or when the other team is having an on night.

The NBA guard can search for the Earth's edge in Big Bend and bone up on JFK conspiracy theories when he's not getting buckets in Dallas.

In any case, Irving is coming to Texas regardless of what we have to say about it. Is it Kinky Friedman’s job to help Irving overcome the prejudices he seems to have acquired? But Irving’s endorsement of antisemitic conspiracy theories is more troubling: anyone with a platform the size of Irving’s who spreads those ideas puts Jewish people in danger, and the threat of antisemitic violence is real, as folks in North Texas learned If the Earth is flat, it has to end somewhere, and [the stunning landscapes of Big Bend](https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/nature/ecosystems.htm) surely look like they’ve got something to hide. The NBA off-season is short, but if Irving applies himself, we’re sure he can do some digging (but not actual digging, because disturbing the park’s natural features is [illegal](https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/bc_regulations.htm)). One thing we do know is that if Irving wants to get to the bottom of things, then Dallas is the place to be. [Big Bend National Park](https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/big-bend-national-park-texas-crowds-popular-reservations/), nestled between Terlingua and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. [reports](https://www.nba.com/news/nets-kyrie-irving-trade-dallas-mavericks) of a trade that would send All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks. [argued](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10064370-kyrie-irving-rumors-mavs-think-their-culture-environment-will-be-ideal-fit-for-pg) that the team’s “culture and environment” will assist Irving in thriving on and off the court. The Earth is flat. He’s prone to embracing conspiracy theories, he seems to believe that whatever he sees on YouTube or Instagram is the gospel truth, and he has some, er, curious ideas about everything from [COVID-19 vaccines](https://thehill.com/homenews/3652458-nets-star-kyrie-irving-says-vaccine-mandates-one-the-biggest-violations-of-human-rights-in-history/) to the shape of the [Earth](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/movies/kyrie-irving-nba-celtics-earth.html) to—well, to whether a Hitler-referencing [film](https://www.nytimes.com/article/kyrie-irving-antisemitic.html) called Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America is an accurate history of the Jewish people. One of the more quaint conspiracy theories Irving has embraced involves the Kennedy assassination.

Since the departure of Jalen Brunson this summer, the Dallas Mavericks have been looking for opportunities to add another backcourt creator next to Luka ...

These are some of the doubts the Mavericks will face in the coming months. Would the Mavericks be willing to commit almost $200 million in the next four years to sign him to a long-term deal? But in March, Irving will turn 31, and in the past four seasons, he has played only 143 games. But since Brunson now plays in New York, there was a need to make a move that would shake things up. Irving will help balance this situation, and Kidd will have the opportunity to build some lineups around Irving while Doncic rests a little bit. He often left the Nets hanging during his time in Brooklyn. 2 star next to him, Doncic has been forced to play many minutes and has been carrying the entire offense on his shoulders. Defensively, though, the issues that were already in place won't improve for sure. Those conversations helped accelerate the process and convince Irving that Dallas could be the right move for him. However, Irving's behavior outside the court leaves a lot of questions for the Mavericks moving forward. Irving will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so his future remains uncertain. The idea of seeing two players of that caliber playing together is definitely exciting.

The Mavericks have even more defensive issues after trading for Irving.

The trade to land Irving certainly gives Dallas that secondary shot creator it so desperately needed, but in doing so it got even worse on defense. But similar to the other guys on this list, Kuzma will be in high demand if he's made available. His minutes could be staggered with Doncic and Irving so that there's at least one plus-defender in the backcourt, and his defensive intensity on the floor makes his teammates want to play up to his level. They could offer both of their 2025 and 2027 first-round picks, and young guys like [Josh Green](/nba/players/3148154/josh-green/) or [Jaden Hardy](/nba/players/26819214/jaden-hardy/), but there's other teams in the league that could offer something better, so it would take a lot for the Mavericks to land him. The Mavs have the 2025 and 2027 first-round picks to dangle, and could attach the likes of Hardy or Green to sweeten the pot for the Bulls. If Chicago does trade Caruso, Dallas could certainly be in the mix to land him. Caruso has been mentioned in trade rumors leading up to Thursday's deadline, but it's unclear what the Bulls want in return for him, or if they even want to shop him. [NBA](/nba/) trade deadline, so the Mavericks still have time to address the glaring need for defensive-minded players. This is wishful thinking for the Mavericks primarily because every contending team in the league would love to have Anunoby on their roster. [Raptors](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/TOR/toronto-raptors/) already turned down a reported deal for Anunoby that would've landed them three first-round picks. While Irving's offensive talents are undeniable, the fit next to [Luka Doncic](/nba/players/2900426/luka-doncic/) is questionable, and something Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd will have to figure out if this team wants to succeed. However, the bigger questions come on the defensive side of the ball, where Dallas already ranked near the bottom of the league prior to this deal.

Dallas' bold move to acquire star guard Kyrie Irving did more than slash the Mavericks' NBA title odds in half. It completed a 72-hour of whirlwind action ...

Kyrie Irving is headed to Dallas, just days after he requested a trade out of Brooklyn.

Adding Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant hasn't led to a conference finals berth, much less a championship. After meeting Irving's trade request, the Nets are ...

[asked for a trade in June](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/sports/basketball/kevin-durant-trade-demand-nets.html) and was given permission to seek one, but couldn’t find one to which the Nets would agree. [some irony](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/sports/basketball/nets-disastrous-deal-with-the-celtics-keeps-getting-worse.html) to the Nets’ being eliminated by the Celtics. The [Boston Celtics swept the Nets](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/sports/basketball/nets-eliminated-celtics-sweep.html) out of the first round of the 2022 playoffs. In 2013, the Nets gave up five players, three first-round picks and the option to swap another first-round pick for four players, including [Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/29/sports/the-nets-go-big-bold-and-old.html). It’s possible that once he’s healthy he will lead the Nets to a strong finish this season. They gave up a king’s ransom to do it: The package included three first-round picks, four pick swaps and Jarrett Allen, a talented young center who has found success, including an All-Star selection, in Cleveland. And so, for the past three and a half years, the Nets firmly set their sights on a championship that, they believed, the arrivals of Irving and Durant had put within reach. In return, the Nets will receive two players, a distant first-round draft pick and multiple second-round picks. “I’m consistently in the lineup, that helps,” Irving said. Having superstar talent is the only surefire way to win a championship in the N.B.A. They were winning games, Irving seemed to be in a good place, and even Durant’s knee injury, while detrimental, wasn’t catastrophic. After meeting Irving’s trade request, the Nets are once again in a state of uncertainty.

The Los Angeles Lakers are desperate. Everybody knows it, and no one is about to bail them out.

LeBron James said that while he was disappointed by the Lakers losing out on trading for Kyrie Irving, his focus has shifted to "where it should be and ...

"Well, I mean for me it is challenging, but I'm 10 toes down so I understand that once I show up to work, or once I show up to the job description -- and that's being a leader of the ballclub every single day -- there's no [question for] me on what my mindset is," he said. is currently 25-29, 13th in the Western Conference but only three games out of the No. Is there things I can do to be greater at to not only help the ballclub and everybody all automatically think it's basketball, but it's in life in general. My focus is shifted back to where it should be and that's this club now and what we have in the locker room." James, 38, signed a two-year, $97.1 million extension with Los Angeles in the offseason that will keep him under contract through the 2024-25 season, should he pick up his option on the final year. I kind of envision myself on what it can, but I don't invest it all the way into it until I know it's happening. "But my focus is shifted now. Is there things I can do more? I think your greatest challenge and your greatest enemy is the person that you look in the mirror. I don't get too excited about the possibilities of things that can be. However, the Lakers also got the impression that Nets governor Joe Tsai was reluctant to trade Irving to L.A., which was believed to be Irving's preferred destination, after a tumultuous tenure with the talented point guard, sources told ESPN. [Russell Westbrook](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3468/russell-westbrook) and their two future first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2029, sources told ESPN.

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill reacts to the blockbuster move - as Brooklyn sends the point guard to Dallas in a trade that could shake up ...

The deal became official Monday afternoon and came after more than a week of speculation about Irving as the NBA trade deadline looms on Thursday. Irving, 6-2, ...

For the past three years, Irving has teamed with Kevin Durant and, until this season, James Harden but the Nets were unable to make a serious run at an NBA championship. To be a center piece or a couple of pieces that are part of a package for a superstar, (it’s a comment on) your reputation, your body of work. Be ready to play whenever you’re number is called and for whatever team your number is called. And he always covers the opponent’s best offensive player. The Mavericks now have two of the top five players across the NBA this season in isolation points per possession, with Dončić (1.16 points/possession) also cracking the top five. “Being traded last year for the unicorn (Porzingis), that’s a max guy,” Dinwiddie said. Irving, 6-2, will join Luka as a starter at the All-Star Game later this month. They aren’t giving up any stars, although both Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith were key members of the franchise who contributed mightily to their charge to the Western Conference finals last season. Among 40 players using two-or-more isolation possessions/game, Irving’s 1.28 points/possession lead the NBA and are the highest for any player (min. From a purely basketball standpoint, it’s a no-brainer for the Mavericks. Interestingly, he’s averaging 5.3 assists this season, exactly the same number as Dinwiddie has averaged. Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and several future draft picks were jettisoned to the Brooklyn Nets to get the 30-year-old Irving.

The Dallas Mavericks trade with the Brooklyn Nets for star guard Kyrie Irving was made official on Monday.

He wants to win any game of the week, that's why he loves to play, that's why he wants to play 82 games. It was part of the massive fallout from Irving posting a link to an antisemitic film on his Twitter account. "I will forever be grateful I got to live out my dream I had as a Kid with y'all. 2 scorer in [Christian Wood](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3058254/christian-wood) in the offseason, they haven't been able to win without Doncic this season. That was one of many drama-filled sagas that marked Irving's time with the Nets. He is expected to return just prior to or after the mid-February All-Star break. [Jalen Brunson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3934672/jalen-brunson) was crucial to Dallas' playoff run alongside Doncic last season but decided he wanted his own starting role as a point guard and left for the [New York Knicks](/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks) in free agency. "At the end of the day, Kevin wants to win," Vaughn said. A year ago, the Mavericks were right around .500 when their surge started just as the calendar turned to 2022. He wasn't with the Mavs at the start of a five-game trip out West after bruising his right heel in the final home game before the trip. Dallas is in a group of nine teams that started the day within one loss of each other. He was ruled out of the second game on the trip at Utah on Monday night.