Nets trading Kyrie Irving to Mavericks

Kyrie Irving‘s tumultuous Nets career has come to an end, with Brooklyn dealing its star to the Dallas Mavericks, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms.

The Nets are reportedly acquiring forward Dorian Finney-Smith, guard Spencer Dinwiddie, a 2027 first-round pick and multiple second-round picks. Markieff Morris is also heading to Dallas as part of the deal.

The seven-time All-Star requested a trade a few days ago, after the sides were unable to come to terms on an extension, with Irving asking to be dealt ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline.

If the Nets did not trade Irving, he planned to leave via free agency after the season.

The Lakers and Suns were among the teams with interest in Irving. The Clippers told associates on Saturday night that they did not have strong interest in Irving, as SNY reported. (No, the Knicks never registered significant interest in trading for Irving.)

The Lakers’ offers for Irving included Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick. Irving saw the Lakers as a good fit. LeBron James has long been open to teaming up with Irving again. So Irving’s trade to Dallas presumably adds pressure to the Lakers to make a significant move ahead of the deadline.

What’s next for the Nets? Opposing teams are waiting to learn more about Kevin Durant’s future with the club.

Does Durant view the current roster as one fit to contend for a title? If not, would he re-issue the trade request he issued – and then rescinded – in the offseason?

Are the Nets done trading? Members of the organization were in touch with the Toronto Raptors on a subsequent deal during the negotiations for the Irving trade.

Brooklyn can still move the players it received in the Dallas trade. Also worth noting: prior to Irving’s trade request, the Nets and Atlanta Hawks remained in touch on a deal for John Collins.

So the Nets may make another deal prior to Thursday’s deadline. But they completed the biggest trade of the deadline on Sunday by moving Irving.

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Irving’s tenure with the Nets was pockmarked by off-court issues, including his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (which led to his missing most of the 2021-22 season) and antisemitic comments he made earlier this season that resulted in a suspension.

The 30-year-old point guard also spent roughly two weeks away from the Nets in 2021 for personal reasons. He didn’t inform the team of his absence prior to leaving the club.

This past offseason, Irving toyed with the idea of forcing his way out of Brooklyn.

Irving opted in to the final year of his deal last June after no teams stepped up to trade for him. The Lakers were the only one that was known to be interested.

After opting in, buzz continued regarding a potential trade of Irving — and that buzz increased in late June after Durant requested to be moved.

However, in late August, Irving decided that he would be committed to the Nets. That commitment is now over.

The trade is another step in the dismantling of yet another one of the NBA’s Super Team experiments. Irving and Durant signed in Brooklyn together in the 2019 offseason. They were later paired with James Harden, and then Ben Simmons.

It’s unclear how Irving’s departure might impact the future of Durant. Unlike Irving could have, Durant can’t simply leave after the season. He is under contract through the 2025-26 campaign. He can certainly ask to be traded, though.

Irving will be a free agent this summer. He is said to be entering his partnership with Luka Doncic with an open mind toward the future.