NBA Twitter is split when it comes to Kyrie and his off-the-court persona

Hey guys,

Long time no talk. I've been taking some time off from writing the daily recaps to create some other content and give myself a break from watching the NBA every night to break each game down. I've also been enjoying the NFL Playoffs, which have been excellent. Now with that being said, I have kept a close eye on the Association, at the very minimum, keeping up with the daily beats of the league and watching the Lakers in their pursuits to make it enjoyable in the Western Conference. 

One thing that has stood out to me with two of my favorite teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks, was both teams have been treading water. It has been clear to me that LeBron, who has been playing his ass off keeping LA's heads above water, was understaffed and growing more and more frustrated. Even though I would say the Lakers have been playing a decent brand of basketball over the last month, going 5-5 over the last 10 games with and without both AD and Bron, James himself would say the team needs an upgrade at the Point Guard position. 

Now let us look at the Mavericks; with all things considered, Dallas has achieved. Their star Luka Doncic is considered a top 5 MVP candidate, but the team chemistry and wins have been off. Now the Mavericks are also suffering from major injuries to key players in their rotation, which, at best, is already marginal. They are looking for a scoring punch to help take the load off of Luka, who is number one in usage rating offensively. 

Hmm, with the NBA trade deadline looming, which disgruntled NBA ALLSTAR fits this description for both squads?

Kyrie 

Early this week, after negotiations with his current team, the Brooklyn Nets fell apart in which. Kyrie was seeking a 4-year deal worth reportedly over $ 130 million fully guaranteed. Well, if you have been watching the NBA for the past few years, you know the word guarantee and Kyrie do not go together. Playing in his fourth season in Brooklyn, Irving has turned in an exceptional year thus far, averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game in his 40 games played. The 30-year-old has had to shoulder a heavier load since Kevin Durant sustained an MCL sprain on Jan. 8, but the Nets (31–20) have managed to stay afloat in his absence and are currently in fourth place in the East.

With that being said, Irving is now considered to be a wild card. Depending on what is currently running through his mind, it's clear that his love for the game of basketball does not always come before his off-the-court principles, and he has shown himself to be an independent thinker. I admire Kyrie, and I personally have always been a fan of his game. He comes from the school of "Mamba Mentality," possessing a Kobe-like obsessive quality when it comes to perfecting his craft.

NBA Twitter is split when it comes to Kyrie and his off-the-court persona. Some say he isn't worth the trouble of betting your franchise on the shoulders of a player who, at times, has been indifferent when it comes to playing the game of basketball. If I, on the other hand, were running one of these teams would make the trade in a heartbeat. 

The Lakers and the Mavs were the clear front runners to land the 7-time ALL STAR. Considering Kyrie put the Nets in yet another dubious situation this time around, the Lakers actually had a better chance at making the trade. Russell Westbrook has shown the ability to endure being a team's scapegoat and coming back from that to contend for the NBA Sixth Man of the year award. I thought packing Westbrook, and the two first-round picks would secure Kyrie, whose trade stock has been at an all-time low. As late as Saturday night, the Lakers, who at first deemed Austin Reaves and Rookie Max Christie off the table, reconsidered this stance once it seemed like the initial offering of Russell wasn't going to do it. Around the same time last night, The Clippers emerged as a dark horse candidate to trade for Irving. It looked like the fate of the Western Conference would come down to this arms race for Kyrie.

The Mavs make it happen.

Talks between the Nets and Mavericks accelerated on Sunday, sources said. The Lakers and Nets had several conversations on a potential deal, but the Nets preferred Dallas' package that included getting the point guard and wing to add to the roster, plus future draft picks. Sources: Nets trading star guard Kyrie Irving to Mavericks - NBA .... https://pregame.com/pregame-forums/f/nba/1824351/sources-nets-trading-star-guard-kyrie-irving-to-mavericks

The Mavericks are sending Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and second-round picks in 2027 and 2029 to the Nets in exchange for Irving and Markieff Morris, sources said.

Sources - Nets trading star guard Kyrie Irving to Mavericks. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35594375/sources-nets-trading-star-guard-kyrie-irving-mavericks.

 Not only do the Mavs pick up Kyrie Irving, who will undoubtedly make the Mavericks better but not lost on me is the acquisition of veteran wing Markieff Morris. Morris hadn't been a regular part of the Brooklyn rotation this season, and though he joins a Dallas frontcourt that's comparatively lacking in depth, the 33-year-old isn't a lock to see consistent minutes off the bench. At least in the short term, Morris may have a path to playing time on the second unit while Finney-Smith is out of the picture and while Davis Bertans (calf) and Maxi Kleber (hamstring) are both potentially out through the All-Star break. Christian Wood (thumb), meanwhile, has missed Dallas' last eight games but could be back in action as soon as Monday in Utah.

UPDATE:

What Brooklyn wanted from the Lakers for Kyrie Irving:

Austin Reaves
Max Christie
Pick swaps
Two first round picks
Russell Westbrook

(Via @ShamsCharania ) pic.twitter.com/BVpoCccYxN

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 6, 2023

Conclusion

I really feel like although this makes the Dallas Mavericks' chances of competing in the west dramatically better, I don't necessarily know if it's enough to win it all. Luka has improved on the defensive end, but with him and Kyrie being in the backcourt and giving up Finney-Smith, who was the Maverick's most athletic defender getting stops on the defensive end will be tough.

I can see the move getting the Mavs into the Western Conference Finals again, and if all things click, it's possible they make it to the Finals.

 Out here in LA, I feel like if the Lakers had pulled off this trade, it would of all but guaranteed Bron a chance at competing for a chip. LeBron, Kyrie, and AD, headed into the playoffs, would have been the most dangerous team out west. In a way, I was a bit let down because Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss couldn't get this deal done. If it boils down to the hesitation to move Christie and Reaves, then this was a monumental error on their part. That's all speculation, though.

 Either way, as an NBA fan, this gives the season a much-needed storyline and something to look forward to in the second half of the year.

Let's stay tuned!