Kyrie Irving has reportedly asked the Brooklyn Nets for a trade. Corey Sipkin/Associated Press
NEW YORK — All-Star guard Kyrie Irving has asked the Brooklyn Nets for a trade, a person with knowledge of the details said Friday.
The request comes less than a week before the trade deadline and possibly signals an ending to his tenure with the franchise, either then or after this season ends.
Irving made the request after talks about a new contract did not go to his liking, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because talks were to remain private. It was first reported by ESPN and The Athletic.
Irving is eligible for a contract extension, but the Nets refused to give him one last summer. Irving’s agent and stepmother, Shetellia Irving, told Bleacher Report last week that she had reached out to the Nets regarding a new deal. Kyrie Irving – whose current deal with the Nets expires after this season – is eligible for a four-year contract worth as much as $200 million.
“I have reached out to the Nets regarding this,” Shetellia Irving told Bleacher Report. “We have had no significant conversations to date. The desire is to make Brooklyn home, with the right type of extension, which means the ball is in the Nets’ court to communicate now if their desire is the same.”
The Nets – coming off a 43-point loss at Boston on Wednesday – open a five-game homestand on Saturday against Washington. Irving isn’t listed on their injury report, meaning he is available to play. They play six of their last seven games before the All-Star break at home; the only “road” game in that stretch is at the New York Knicks.
But whether Irving will be part of any of that is unclear now.
TIMBERWOLVES: The Minnesota Timberwolves were predictably irked when Anthony Edwards was not picked for the NBA All-Star Game, a belief in his worthiness that had plenty of backing around the league.
As for Edwards, well, he said he wasn’t surprised or disappointed. His laid-back, aw-shucks vibe – one of many reasons why the third-year guard has endeared himself to the Timberwolves and their fans – was in full effect after the reserves were announced Thursday night.
“I’m just happy for the guys that got in,” Edwards said at the team’s shootaround prior to playing Orlando. “I didn’t even watch it. I knew I wasn’t going to get in.”
With only 12 spots per conference in this increasingly star-driven league, there will never not be an All-Star team without a list of legitimate snubs.
Edwards name-dropped Sacramento guard De’Aaron Fox as one peer he thought should’ve made it. Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver’s Aaron Gordon were among the strong Western Conference candidates for the reserve pool selected by the coaches.
PUNISHMENT: Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay by the NBA, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell fined $20,000 for their roles in an on-court incident on Thursday night.
Brooks struck Mitchell in the groin area during the third quarter after the Grizzlies guard had fallen to the floor. Mitchell retaliated by throwing the ball at Brooks and then shoving him.
Both players were ejected in Cleveland’s 128-113 win.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
PISTONS 118, HORNETS 112: Saddiq Bey scored 22 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 32.1 seconds left, and host Detroit rallied to beat Charlotte.
Mason Plumlee missed five free throws in the last 6:04 as Detroit outscored Charlotte 27-18 in the fourth quarter.
TRAIL BLAZERS 124, WIZARDS 116: Anfernee Simons scored 20 of his 33 points in the third quarter and visiting Portland erased a 20-point deficit, snapping Washington’s six-game winning streak.
Simons made six of Portland’s nine 3-pointers in the third, and the Trail Blazers finally caught and passed the Wizards in the fourth. Simons finished 9 of 12 from beyond the arc.
Damian Lillard added 29 points for Portland, which has won five of six.
PACERS 107, KINGS 104: Buddy Hield scored 21 points against his former team and Indiana beat visiting Sacramento to stop a four-game losing streak.
Hield shot 5 of 9 from 3-point range. Aaron Nesmith added 17 points for the Pacers, going 4 for 7 on 3s. Myles Turner had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Harrison Barnes led the Kings with 23 points. Kevin Huerter scored 16, and Domantas Sabonis and Terence Davis each had 15.
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