Report: Kyrie Irving to join Nets for 4 years, $141M
Kyrie Irving is reportedly planning to agree to terms with the Brooklyn Nets for four years and $141 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Kyrie won’t be alone, either, as Kevin Durant is also expected to sign with Brooklyn.
Brooklyn is making a clean sweep tonight: Brooklyn will sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Sources: Durant will sign a 4-year, $164M deal with the Nets; Irving will sign 4-years, $141M.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Report: Irving, Durant both took less than max
Durant and Irving both took less-than max deals to allow the Nets to also sign DeAndre Jordan to a four-year, $40 million deal, ESPN reports.
The eight-year NBA veteran declined the $21.3 million option in the final year of his contract with the Boston Celtics in anticipation of signing a max deal in free agency.
Irving’s rough ride in Boston
Irving, 27, spent the last two seasons with the Celtics after forcing a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, reportedly weary of playing in LeBron James’ shadow.
After being sidelined for the Celtics’ 2018 playoff run that saw them take James’ Cavaliers to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, Irving returned healthy last season and vowing a long-term future in Boston.
Anticipation was high for a Celtics team that finished one game short of the NBA Finals without Irving and Gordon Hayward in the lineup and had both All-Stars returning from injury.
But chemistry issues were apparent early, and the Celtics suffered a lackluster 4-1 second-round loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, who had quickly supplanted them as one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders.
With the Bucks, Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers all improving around them, the Celtics regressed with the additions of Irving and Hayward to the lineup.
How will Irving fit with Durant, Brooklyn?
Irving’s value as a scorer and ball-handler remain unquestioned. He earned his sixth career All-Star selection last season while averaging 23.8 points, 6.9 assists and five rebounds while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 40.1 percent from 3-point distance.
Those are certainly max-player numbers. But the questions about his fit with other stars and leadership abilities have plagued him throughout his career and continue to be issues.
He forced his way out of Cleveland seeking a chance to be the No. 1 option on a championship contender. His time in Boston suggests that’s a role that’s not in the cards for him.
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