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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Kyrie Irving has now been sentenced to the gallows. Fans, media, and pundits have not spared him at all after the elimination of the Brooklyn Nets at the hands of the Celtics. He had an amazing first game, which was followed by absolutely mediocre performances on the court. His attitude has been noted as well. A sign of defeat had already come to his face after his team’s loss in Game 3.

Now, it’s contract extension time for the Point Guard. The Nets signed him in 2019 as a free agent. He signed a four-year deal worth 136.5 million, which included a $36.9 million player option for the 2022-23 season.

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If he re-signs a new deal with the Nets after declining the player option, he will be eligible for a five-year, $248 million deal with the Nets if he goes that route. Fans would be flabbergasted if the Nets to do such a deal. They have already voiced their displeasure over his performances and are now saying this contract is not worth it.

Fans Reaction to Irving’s contract

USA Today via Reuters

Fans have been very vocal in this. Irving cannot be signed on such a deal. To them, it’s exorbitant for someone who has not delivered in the playoffs since 2016-17. Fans have noted how he has disappeared in clutch situations for his teams since leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers. These are some of the choicest tweets highlighting that contract situation with the Nets:

Kyrie Irving and the Nets’ options

USA Today via Reuters

To be fair, its not the only option in front of the Nets office. They can try to up his player option and sign a three- or four-year extension that would begin in 2023-24, but that would cost him some money for next season. A four-year extension with Brooklyn would be worth $189.7 million.

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There have been reports of them trying to sign Irving with a four-year deal worth around $200 million that would align with Kevin Durant’s current contract. For Kyrie, there is another option, and that is to test unrestricted free agency. He could join another team on a four-year, $182.1 million contract.

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Irving’s words have also come back to bite him. His comments about not having a head coach when Steve Nash was appointed. He also commented once about him and Durant managing the franchise together with owner Joe Tsai and chairman Sean Marks.

So is Kyrie’s extension inevitable? This can only be answered by the Nets front office a few months later.