The Brooklyn Nets are having a fine start to the 2021-2022 season without their star point guard. However, if they want to make it past the semifinals in this year’s playoffs, the Nets need to trade for a PG if Kyrie Irving remains unvaccinated (or if New York City doesn’t lift its vaccine mandate).
Right now, neither scenario looks promising, but Brooklyn’s winning games in Irving’s absence … even though the team is 4-6 against opponents with a .500 record. If Irving were playing for the Nets, Brooklyn would have the upper hand in games against playoff-caliber teams — no question.
So, what should Brooklyn do? Pursue a trade for Irving? That’s what the signs are pointing towards. It doesn’t make much sense to wait this situation out, especially with the damage that’s already been done. Re-integrating him back into the lineup doesn’t seem like the best idea, either, because he’ll likely hit free agency after this year.
While we’re on the topic, Bleacher Report proposed a trade that would send Irving and rookie Day’Ron Sharpe to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for power forward Kristaps Porzingis and point guard Jalen Brunson. Eh … that might not be the greatest thing for the Nets to do.
NBA Trades: Analyzing B/R's Kyrie Irving for Kristaps Porzingis trade (via @sell_dalton)https://t.co/bcpHWM08tD
— HoopsHabit (@HoopsHabit) November 27, 2021
Should the Nets explore this Kyrie Irving trade with the Mavericks?
The 25-year-old Brunson has played in 18 games for Dallas and has started five of them. He’s shooting 49.3% from the field and 33.9% from the 3-point line for an average of 15.1 points per game. He’s once again a sixth man of the year candidate after finishing in fourth in last season’s voting. Brunson played well while Luka Doncic was out with an injury, but he’s primarily the leader of the second unit.
Exchanging Irving’s experience for Brunson’s lack thereof doesn’t seem plausible. Brooklyn isn’t going to receive a similar player to Irving’s caliber in a trade, so the Nets are going to have to lower their expectations, but it still doesn’t seem right to go for Brunson. It’s a tough job to replace Irving’s 26.9 points and 6.0 assists that he averaged last season.
Not to mention, it’s hard to see 26-year-old Porzingis fitting in Brooklyn’s rotation. He’s playing at a high level right now and is averaging 20.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, but it feels too soon to go all-in on the 7-foot-3 forward.
Why? Porzingis’ consistency is worrisome, along with the fact that he’s been plagued by injuries and has yet to play more than 72 games since entering the league in 2015-16. Over the last four years, he’s played in fewer than 60 games.
On Oct. 26, Porzingis experienced lower back tightness in a game against the Raptors and left the early. He was then out for five games after that. On Monday night against the Cavaliers, an ankle injury caused him to exit the game. His injury history isn’t something that the Nets need to gamble on.
Brooklyn hasn’t given Sharpe much of a chance, either. He’s played well for the team’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, but has only spent 36 minutes on the court for Brooklyn. The Nets are lacking depth at forward/center, but who knows if Porzingis can maintain his current level of play and stay healthy … on his hefty price tag.
Should the Nets consider a Kyrie Irving deal that could land them Kristaps Porzingis and Jalen Brunson? https://t.co/rajaoz1NuB
— Nets Wire (@thenetswire) November 27, 2021
It’s hard to give up a player whose output has been consistently great for two players that have been out to a hot start so far this season. The playoffs are what matter most, right? Last year, Brunson averaged 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in the postseason for the Mavericks, while Porzingis averaged 13.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
That’s not even close to Irving’s 23.4 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, which is what he’s averaged in a total of 70 playoff games.
If Brooklyn does send Irving in a trade to another team, it shouldn’t be for two players that could end up being a bust for the Nets. It wouldn’t make any sense at all to go out on a whim and lose a player like Irving in the process, even if he hasn’t played in a single game this year for Brooklyn.
The suggested trade is too much of a risk and not enough of a reward for the Nets.
2 surprise players who will be key for the Nets’ playoff run
The Brooklyn Nets are a month into the 2021-22 NBA season, but these two players have already made it known that they'll be key during the playoffs.