Jan 26, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) reacts after a basket during the first half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA Trade Deadline heated up very quickly with a late Friday trade request from Kyrie Irving. What’s the best the Nets can get for him?
Kyrie Irving proved himself, once again, to be the NBA’s premier chaos agent. His Friday afternoon trade request, with an embedded threat to sign elsewhere if he isn’t traded, has the potential to completely reshape the trade deadline.
The problem for the Nets is multi-dimensional. Even though Irving has been relatively quiet and productive since the early season uproar over his Anti-Semitic statements and actions, his value was almost certainly depressed. Remember, he’s an unrestricted free agent and any team that trades for Irving probably has to be willing to re-sign him and the number of teams interested in making a long-term commitment to him is likely fairly small.
The other issue that the Nets have zero leverage. Irving has requested a trade and made clear that he’ll sign elsewhere if he isn’t traded. The Nets have to trade him in the next week or they’ll lose him for nothing. Anything they can get is better than nothing.
With those issues in mind, here’s my rough guess at the best packages the Nets could expect to get for him.
3. Immanuel Quickley and filler from the Knicks
The Knicks may not be willing to take a risk on Irving but if they do want to give it a shot, they can probably build a competitive offer without having to include a first-round pick. They can offer up Derrick Rose and Evan Fournier for salary-matching purposes and Immanuel Quickley and Cam Reddish for upside. They also will be shedding some salary in Rose and Fournier so even if they end up deciding not to re-sign Irving, they’re still getting something by giving up Quickley and Reddish.
The Nets have to take back some long-term salary here but they get some players who can at least contribute this season as they try to stay in the playoff race and a few younger pieces to try and develop for the future. It could be the best of several bad options for the Nets.