Kyrie Irving to Phoenix Suns? Speculation swirls after NBA free agency meeting report
Could the Phoenix Suns make a huge splash in NBA free agency?
Bleacher Report and TNT's Chris Haynes reported that the team is expected to meet with star point guard Kyrie Irving when NBA free agency begins Friday.
According to Haynes, Irving, who played with the Dallas Mavericks after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets last season, is also expected to meet with the Mavericks and "possibly other teams," including the Houston Rockets.
The meetings are expected to occur in Los Angeles, according to Haynes' report.
Irving was a teammate of Kevin Durant's in Brooklyn and would give the Suns a huge boost at point guard after Phoenix traded Chris Paul in the deal to acquire Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards earlier this month.
Cameron Payne, the Suns' backup point guard last season, is still on the roster and Devin Booker can play the position.
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Could the Phoenix Suns afford Kyrie Irving?
Haynes attempted to answer that question in his report.
"The Suns are still being ultra-aggressive in trying to assemble top talent to play alongside their three stars in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. New Suns governor Mat Ishbia and general manager James Jones are working tirelessly to construct a legitimate championship team," Haynes wrote. "It would be difficult for the Suns to add Irving due to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. If they acquired him via sign-and-trade, they would be hard-capped at the first salary-cap apron, which is currently projected to be $172 million. They also aren't expected to have access to the $12.4 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception or the $5 million taxpayer mid-level exception at the moment. The Mavericks are still considered the favorites to re-sign Irving. They would ideally like to get a commitment from him early in free agency so he could assist in recruiting other free agents. Irving is eligible for a five-year, $272 million max contract."
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VOTE: How would you feel about Kyrie Irving on the #Suns, assuming Phoenix and the guard could work out a deal in #NBA free agency? (Speculation swirls: https://t.co/R2fngrDz7G) #WeAreTheValley #MFFL
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) June 29, 2023
Kyrie Irving has been linked to Suns before
This isn't the first time the Suns have been linked to Irving in speculation, as the point guard has been connected to Phoenix in either trade or free agency rumors several times in recent years.
The Suns looked to trade Paul to Brooklyn for Irving before the Feb. 9 trade deadline last season.
Dallas ended up getting him and Phoenix landed Kevin Durant in a blockbuster deal.
Previously: Should Phoenix Suns target free agents Kyrie Irving or Fred VanVleet if they move Chris Paul?
NBA Twitter speculates about Kyrie Irving and the Suns
Social media had thoughts on the report that Irving was meeting with the Suns. Did it ever.
Kyrie Irving will meet with the Phoenix Suns in Los Angeles as Free Agency starts according to @ChrisBHaynes.
If there were ever a top talent to shock the NBA world by doing some crazy like taking the veteran minimum it’d be Kyrie pic.twitter.com/YwwpFGFLyO— Espo (@Espo) June 29, 2023
Guys...Kyrie is maybe just crazy enough (and spiteful enough) to take a minimum if other teams aren't giving him what he wants. If it were anyone else I'd call BS, but...it's Kyrie lol
— Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) June 29, 2023
A sign and trade for the Suns would hard cap them at the first apron, meaning in order for this to happen Kyrie would have to take a MASSIVE discount, the rest of the players would have to be minimum deals, and likely no returning of players like Craig unless they take mins too. https://t.co/q0t8dTAWEf
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) June 29, 2023
If there was ever a player that would sign for the vet minimum when they should not…it’d be Kyrie Irving!
Kyrie, Book, Beal, KD, DA…LET ME LIVE!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣— Saul Bookman (@Saul_Bookman) June 29, 2023
I want Kyrie to take a vet minimum in Phoenix solely to watch all of NBA twitter be in tears 😂
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) June 29, 2023
Everyone immediately going to sign and trade scenarios when in reality Kyrie unexpectedly taking the minimum feels like the most Kyrie thing ever.
But this is most likely just a leverage grab. A fun one at that.— Zona (@ZonaHoops_) June 29, 2023
Kyrie Irving to the Suns on a veteran-minimum contract?! 👀😂 https://t.co/02DQwydvbY
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 29, 2023
Maybe Kyrie plays for the vets minimum but then also gets a 35 million dollar a year NIL deal from United Wholesale Mortgage? 😂
— Tim Ring (@timringTV) June 29, 2023
Kyrie intends to meet with WHO?😵💫 https://t.co/FTUblOi5i8
— Cole Anthony (@The_ColeAnthony) June 29, 2023
If Kyrie Irving took the minimum, it would quite literally be unprecedented. That's all I will say.
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) June 29, 2023
I want Kyrie to sign with Phoenix just so I could watch nba twitter cry about the Suns all off-season long 😭
— Brandon Awadis (@brawadis) June 29, 2023
If the Suns get Kyrie to come to The Valley on the vet minimum, I will genuinely feel sorry for the rest of the NBA.
— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) June 29, 2023
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kyrie Irving Suns NBA free agency speculation swirls. Could it happen?
