Nets > Knicks.
The Kyrie Irving rumor mill is in full churn weeks before free agency begins.
He could stay with the Celtics, he could reunite with LeBron James in Los Angeles, and the Knicks have always been linked with him with their cap space that would allow for a pair of superstars to compete for a title.
But the Brooklyn Nets, as I’ve written before, are clearly the preferable New York destination at the moment for a variety of reasons from the talent on the roster to the lessened pressure of NOT playing at Madison Square Garden.
And maybe Kyrie Irving gets that? Because on Tuesday, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported that the free agent guard has given “every indication” that he wants to sign with the Nets, not the Knicks.
Look: We’re under a month away from free agent madness, so a lot can change, especially after Irving was caught on video earlier this year appearing to say “two max slots, it’s time” to Kevin Durant, which would point toward the Knicks. And it’s not like the other team in New York is suddenly out of the running:
But I’ll say this a lot in the coming weeks about the Nets: It makes complete sense why Irving might want to go there instead of to the Knicks.
The New Jersey native would still be close to home and get a better supporting cast with names like shot-blocker Jarrett Allen, sharp-shooter Joe Harris and do-it-all forward Caris LeVert, not to mention the impressive Spencer Dinwiddie coming off the bench. The only question is if Irving would be able to play in the same backcourt with All-Star D’Angelo Russell, who’s a restricted free agent this offseason. Would the Nets let him walk if they acquire Irving?
Although many people will argue there’s media and fan pressure wherever an NBA player goes, I’d argue there’s the added onus of getting the Knicks back to contention after decades of not coming close to a ring. And while the Nets last won a title of any kind in 1976 when they were in the ABA, there’s not that same level of pressure. And for a guy who seemed to struggle under the spotlight when expectations weren’t meant, maybe the Nets are a better fit.
From a basketball perspective, is Brooklyn an upgrade over the Celtics and their young core? Probably not. But it feels like Irving and Boston weren’t on the same page for much of the season and a fresh start for both parties is probably best.
There’s still so much time until we find out where Irving will play next season, but if he’s leaning toward Brooklyn, it’s not as surprising as you’d think.
