Kyrie Irving Rumors: What Team Could Sign The Nets’ Star In 2022 Free Agency?

The chances of Kyrie Irving remaining on the Brooklyn Nets’ roster appear to be dwindling.

Two weeks after Nets General Manager Sean Marks wouldn’t commit to offering Irving a multi-year contract, the New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield reported that Brooklyn is "outright unwilling" to give the point guard a long-term extension.

Irving has a one-year, $36.5 million option on his contract, but he’s been expected to turn it down in hopes of inking a long-term deal.

Brooklyn can offer Irving a max contract worth close to $245 million over five years. If the latest rumors are true, the Nets won’t pay Irving anything close to that amount.

If the Nets offer Irving a one-year contract, he could test the open market. Other teams with available salary-cap space could pay Irving north of $180 million over four years.

Irving’s options in free agency, however, would be limited.

Only five teams are projected to have cap space in the 2022 offseason, according to Spotrac. Even with some maneuvering, only a handful of potential suitors could pay Irving a max salary.

The Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons are projected to have the most cap space this summer. They have finished with the worst records in the Eastern Conference in each of the last two years. It’s hard to imagine Irving signing with either team as it rebuilds for the future and isn’t anywhere close to competing for a championship.

The San Antonio Spurs might be the most realistic landing spot for Irving. San Antonio is set to be well under the $122 million salary cap. The Spurs missed the 2022 playoffs, but reached the play-in tournament. When Irving asked to be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, he reportedly listed San Antonio among his four preferred destinations.

Gregg Popovich is still with the team and is considered one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. The addition of Irving would greatly improve San Antonio’s offense but the Spurs still wouldn’t be close to a title contender, especially in a difficult Western Conference.

The Indiana Pacers are set to be under the cap. They went 25-57 and didn’t come close to reaching the playoffs.

It’s possible that the Portland Trail Blazers could try and create enough cap space to sign Irving. Building their team around Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving doesn’t seem like a very realistic scenario.

Unless some unforeseen trades happen, that’s where the list of teams that could sign Irving in free agency ends. It’s possible that the two sides could work on a sign-and-trade, though pulling off such a deal could be complicated.

Anything is possible given how disappointing the Nets have been since acquiring Irving and Durant three summers ago. Brooklyn was expected to contend for championships for years to come after trading for James Harden in January 2021. Sixteen months later, Harden is gone and the Nets haven’t even made an appearance in the conference finals.

Durant signed a four-year, $198 million extension with Brooklyn before the start of the 2021-22 season. He also hasn’t spoken with the Nets’ front office since the team was swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, according to the Daily News.

The Nets have Ben Simmons under contract for three more seasons. Considering he hasn’t played basketball in a year, Brooklyn can’t exactly count on him being part of the roster for the immediate future.

After the Nets were eliminated from the postseason, Irving said that he planned to stay in Brooklyn. That might not have changed, even if Brooklyn only offers him a one-year deal.