The Brooklyn Nets listed Kyrie Irving out ahead of their Saturday night game against the Washington Wizards, after the recent trade update from Irving. The point guard failed to land a new contract extension with the team, and he decided to become a free agent after his current contract’s maturity. Moreover, a recent report revealed that the situation could head toward a much worse destination for the Nets and Irving, as he could resort to the infamous Ben Simmons tactic from the Philadelphia 76ers’ camp in the 2021-22 NBA season.
Just like the recent Kyrie Irving trade update, the James Harden/Ben Simmons trade update of the previous season took center stage. Simmons and the Sixers camp had a long-standing rebuttal as the Australian demanded an instant trade out of the camp. Even though he earned the Nets contract, the three-time All-Star paid hefty fines to the Sixers’ management for his actions.
Kyrie Irving to pull off Ben Simmons’ antics?
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According to veteran ESPN reporter Steven A. Smith, Kyrie Irving is prepared to sit out for the rest of the season if he doesn’t land a contract before the upcoming trade deadline. In a recent episode of ‘NBA Countdown’, Smith said, “Kyrie Irving is prepared to sit out the rest of the season if need be. That’s what I’m being told. I don’t know whether I believe that, but that’s what people are saying.”
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However, Irving could attract a contract with either the Dallas Mavericks or the Los Angeles Lakers, as per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Nets find themselves in deeper trouble as Kevin Durant is yet to make a return from his injury.
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Ben Simmons vs the Philadelphia 76ers
Simmons expressed his wish to leave the Sixers camp during the off-season ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season. The Sixers couldn’t trade the star as they didn’t find a satisfying deal, but the star point guard resorted to causing trouble to the franchise. He continuously missed practice sessions and games as a mark of disdain. However, he paid a heavy price for his act as the management slapped him with fines of more than $19 million. Eventually, he became the highest-fined player in NBA history.
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What do you make of Kyrie Irving’s reported new mindset after the big trade update? Should the Nets fine him like the 76ers did to Simmons for missing games? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.