Hahahahahahaha. [Deep breath.] Hahahahahaha. Sorry, we will get to the analysis soon, but it is simply still hilarious that Nets’ All-Star guard Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, per multiple reports. Irving, 30, is currently in the final year of the four-year deal he signed with Brooklyn in 2019. He reportedly told the team that if he is not traded he will leave as a free agent this summer. Irving has had an up-and-mostly-down tenure with Brooklyn, starting with an injury-riddled first season, part-time status last year due to his anti-vaccination beliefs, and then a suspension earlier this season after sharing a link to an antisemitic film on Twitter. Here are three thoughts on Irving’s request. (And yes, we’ll tell you how he can get to the Lakers.)
1. Jacque Vaughn Deserves Better
Jacque Vaughn took over the Nets under truly difficult circumstances. Brooklyn wanted to hire Ime Udoka. The team was playing awful defense and looked like a disaster. Irving was in the middle of his antisemitism controversy. And yet under Vaughn‘s stewardship, the team has gone 29–14 after a 2–6 start. Even after a knee injury to Kevin Durant on Jan. 8, the Nets have gone a respectable 4–6, which is especially commendable after the team fell apart without KD last season. Vaughn and the rest of the organization finally seemed to be quelling all the drama and actually focused on basketball. Nic Claxton has emerged as a DPOY candidate. Role players are making contributions up and down the rotation. And the team is in fourth place in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. It’s ridiculous that Vaughn is now being forced to deal with Irving’s penchant for self-sabotage, because the Nets seemingly had finally settled into being the team most expected them to be with the Durant-Irving duo.
