Kyrie Irving’s “calf injury” will likely last until he’s traded. The Brooklyn Nets will reportedly sit Irving until the team can find a trade for the disgruntled star, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
Irving reportedly demanded a trade from the team Friday. He did not play in the team’s game Saturday — a 125-123 win over the Washington Wizards — due to calf soreness. Nets fans weren’t happy about that, and booed Irving when his picture appeared on the jumbotron.
Irving, 30, is still capable of playing at a high level. He’s averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 40 games. That performance earned Irving a trip to the All-Star Game, where he’ll be a starter.
At 32-20, the Nets are firmly in the playoff hunt. Irving, however, may be looking for a long-term extension, and the Nets are reportedly not willing to make that happen. Irving is eligible for a four-year, $200 million maximum extension.
There will likely be a few teams willing to make that commitment, though Irving’s market could be limited after he was suspended earlier in the season for promoting a film that featured antisemitic hate. Irving then refused to apologize, leading to a longer suspension from the Nets.
The Nets have less than a week to make a trade happen. The NBA trade deadline is set for Feb. 9. The team will play two games before the trade deadline passes. Unless some drastic happens, Irving will not play in those games.
