Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has told the franchise that he wants to be traded ahead of Thursday’s deadline, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Irving had previously requested to be sign-and-traded ahead of the season, sources said, before deciding to opt into the final year of his four-year max contract.
There were some talks on a new deal for Irving, but no deal was reached and a trade request was delivered to the organization on Friday, sources told ESPN. Irving can leave the franchise this summer as a free agent.
He was suspended eight games earlier in the season after making a social media post promoting a book and movie that features antisemitic themes.
The Nets entered Friday 31-20 and firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff race but have lost seven of their last 11 games since Kevin Durant went down with an MCL sprain.
Irving, 30, is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game this season.