Kevin Durant Weighs Future With Nets As Uncertainty Hovers Over Kyrie Irving

KEY POINTS

Kevin Durant is closely monitoring the Kyrie Irving contract situation
Durant could flip the script if the Nets fail to provide him with quality help
Irving moving to a new NBA team is not certain

The Brooklyn Nets are trying to figure out how to deal with the Kyrie Irving issue heading into free agency.

But it appears “Uncle Drew” may not be the only one they will need to address.

According to a report by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Kevin Durant is keeping tabs on the Nets’ situation and will consider his options from there.

Irving wanted to stay in Brooklyn despite the Nets' disastrous 2021-22 season, but the plot turned a bit recently after Nets general manager Sean Marks claimed that the team has not committed to re-signing the seven-time All-Star guard.

"We haven't had any of those discussions yet, so it would be unfair for me to comment on how it looks with us and Kyrie because to be quite frank, he has some decisions to make on his own. He has to look at what he's going to do with his player option," Marks said in a report via Sporting News.

In another report by Charania, it was revealed that the Nets and Irving are at an impasse as far as talks surrounding his future.

Hence, the Nets appear to be in a situation where they may end up losing Irving.

Unless Marks can take in a star who can help Durant, there is that possibility the 12-time All-Star could also jump ship.

For Irving, the veteran guard is aware that he has options.

There are several teams to which he could take his talent to, includeing the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers.

But the key thing to watch here is that most of these teams do not have cap space to take in the one-time NBA champion guard.

A possible recourse would be to see Irving be dealt with but through a sign-and-trade scenario.

Irving created a stir when he refused to get vaccinated last season, leading to him being categorized as a part-time player.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has simmered down, the fact remains that protocols remain in play.

It looms as a critical factor to determine where Irving could move–assuming his contract with the Nets is not settled before the 2022-23 wars.