It seems that no matter what time of year it is Kyrie Irving is always somehow in the news for one reason or another. This man knows how to keep himself relevant. Lately, Kyrie has been trending for all the wrong reasons, as the Brooklyn Nets are unwilling to offer him a max contract extension; and rightfully so. In all Kyrie has missed 129 games since joining the Nets, and as a wise man once said, “the greatest ability is availability”.
So, with the Nets and Kyrie at a standstill, what will happen? I personally don’t think he’ll leave Brooklyn, and many are saying this could be his opportunity to rejoin LeBron on the Lakers, but that got me thinking; “what are some other routes he could take?”. With that being said, let’s look at some other teams Kyrie could choose to go to if he doesn’t sign with either the Nets or the Lakers.
#1- Clippers
Even though the era of the “big-3” is dead I still would love to see a lethal trio of Kawhi, Paul George, and Kyrie, out on the floor. With Kawhi and George having Kyrie setting them up and being able to space the floor, this team would be virtually unstoppable. Although this lineup is intriguing, I’m not sure Clippers management would be too keen on bringing on another superstar who may, or may not, be unavailable.
Both PG and Kawhi have dealt with injuries, which is completely not their fault, but if you’re bringing on a superstar to help them, you would want someone a bit more dependable than Kyrie.
#2- Knicks
It seems that the New York Knicks are always popular, even though they have fielded horrible teams ever since going to the NBA Finals in 1999. Every year, when it seems they are finally on the right track, they manage to shoot themselves in the foot. I really do feel bad for Knicks fans, as it seems that they have to endure heartbreak after heartbreak with this team. The truth is the Knicks haven’t had a true superstar since Carmelo Anthony, and have been missing a star at the point guard position since who knows when.
Could Kyrie take the L-train over to mid-town and join the Knicks? The Nets arch-rivals? I think if he did the Knicks fan base would welcome him with open arms, and the Nets fanbase would despise him, much like the Celtics fans do. It would be interesting to see Kyrie balling in the Big Apple, however, and they could use all the skills they need. When Kyrie is healthy and playing, he is top-3 in the NBA, no doubt about it.
#3- Phoenix Suns
I absolutely love Chris Paul as a basketball player. To me, he is the type of player I strive to be when I play at the YMCA during the open runs; smart, creative, and a good passer. Paul has been great with the Suns these past couple of years, but after falling in the first round this year, it’s clear the team needs that extra x-factor to put them over the top. Who else has more x-factor than Kyrie Irving?
Even with DeAndre Ayton seemingly wanting out of the desert, could bringing in Kyrie sway the big-man to stay, as his chances to head to an NBA Finals would greatly increase with Kyrie now in the mix. Who knows, but all I know is that this Kyrie news coming soon will be worth the wait (I still say he re-signs with the Nets).
Where do you think Kyrie will go? Let me know in the comments below!