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Nets: Caris LeVert and Kyrie Irving’s relationship bodes well for 2020-21

By Adam Weinrib

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a 104-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 10, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a 104-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 10, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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The Nets have a foundation with Caris LeVert, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant.

Caris LeVert will leave the Bubble as the Nets third star, and Kyrie Irving is certainly treating him that way.

After LeVert’s powerful exclamation point in an attempt to kick the Portland Trail Blazers out of the play-in game, his eight-game stint as the focus of the bereft Nets offense will go down as one of the greatest auditions of all time.

As Brooklyn prepares for the playoffs and the Toronto Raptors, LeVert can rest on his laurels a little bit — well, either that, or he can keep going and remain motivated. Despite earning the respect of both the voters, who named him second-team All Bubble, and Damian Lillard, LeVert intends to continue his leap against the Raps.

One man who’s keeping him in check? Kyrie Irving.

In fact, LeVert’s point guard of the future (unless Brooklyn does the unthinkable and strikes a deal) checked in with him this week, following his breakout on the national stage.

Yes, Irving’s as locked in on the Bubble Nets as you are, and he likes what he sees.

Too much conversation has blindly gone on in NBA circles about who the “third star” to join KD and Kyrie will be, and not enough conversation has been devoted to who these guys actually want to play with.

The “superteam” conversation is only valid if there’s a perfect fit. Anthony Davis joined LeBron James because Anthony Davis is the perfect complement to the King, and was available for a bunch of spare parts. An injured Durant and a mercurial Irving know that it wouldn’t be viable to tear down the foundation of Brooklyn’s roster in Year 1 just to add … a retread like Kevin Love? An un-swallowable pill like Bradley Beal?

Plus, if the two superstars were going to create explosive roster damage, wouldn’t they have fostered some already? The same way they foisted Kenny Atkinson on some other rebuild?

For now, Kyrie (and likely KD) are good with LeVert, especially the version that’s been unleashed these past few weeks. Every bit of behavior from Irving, right down to these phone calls, cinches it.