Kevin Durant Meets With Nets Following Kyrie Trade

Kevin Durant has had a very interesting time with the Brooklyn Nets. Overall, he has played incredible basketball with the team. However, thanks to the drama surrounding the team, there has yet to be any real sustained success. One could point to countless injuries and a ton of blockbuster trades that have mostly gone sour. More recently, Kyrie Irving decided to demand a trade from the Nets. Subsequently, he was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks, where he will look to change the narrative about himself.

As for KD, well, he has been left all alone with the likes of Ben Simmons. Sure, he may have some new teammates to work with, however, his superstar point guard is officially gone. Now, his whole reason for being in Brooklyn in the first place has left. Considering the fact that KD demanded a trade back in the summer, one could assume he would do this all over again. Overall, it would be absolutely disastrous to the Nets franchise. Regardless, they did a bad job of managing assets, and now, it could set them back for the next decade.

Kevin Durant Strategizes

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Kevin Durant has officially begun meetings with the Brooklyn Nets. Mostly, it seems like these meetings are to discuss the future of the team. Additionally, there is no sense that a trade is going to be made, anytime soon. However, that could certainly change if Durant is not happy with what he’s hearing. After all, there are a ton of teams out there who are eager to potentially get him. These teams include the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, and even the Boston Celtics. For now, though, Nets fans should take a deep breath as KD appears to be staying.

Moving forward, the trade deadline is going to take place on Thursday, February 9th. This means there isn’t much time left for teams to make deals of any kind. There might be some blockbuster deals come Thursday, although as it stands, movement is at a minimum. There is going to be plenty of news this week, so stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates from the NBA. Additionally, let us know which trades you would like to see, in the comments section.

[Via]

Kyrie Irving Roasted By NYC Mayor Eric Adams

Kyrie Irving will no longer be a member of the Brooklyn Nets moving forward. On Sunday, Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster move that will shake up the league. Overall, this move is something the Nets were forced into as Kyrie decided to request a trade. Of course, the team had little to no interest in fighting him, so they just made a deal as quickly as possible. Subsequently, they could be at risk of losing Kevin Durant, who won’t put with mediocrity for long.

As for Kyrie, he certainly built up his fair share of enemies while in Brooklyn. Although Kyrie didn’t pay much attention to this, there is no doubt that his foes were watching intently. One of these enemies was none other than New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Adams is the one who implemented the vaccine mandates, which subsequently led to Kyrie sitting out for home games last season. Interestingly enough, now that Kyrie is off of the team, Adams is still going after the point guard.

Kyrie Irving Called Out

During a recent interview on Spectrum News in New York, Adams got very honest about his thoughts toward Kyrie. Simply put, he believes the NBA superstar was not good for the Nets locker room. Consequently, he thinks that the trade was good for the team, moving forward. “I will find the team that beats us the most and send him to that team, because then we’ll start beating that team,” Adams said Monday. “It’s about synergy in energy. No matter how much talent you have, your ability to interact with your colleagues is more important. One player can bring down the synergy of the team. And so I would send him to the team that beats us the most so we can start winning better.”

Overall, these are some pretty harsh comments. However, it is clear that many New Yorkers feel this way right now. Moving forward, Kyrie will have to make it work with Luka Doncic, and there is no guarantee that will happen. Hopefully, he is able to change the various narratives surrounding his name. Let us know what you think of Mayor Adams’ remarks, in the comments down below.

[Via]

LeBron James Speaks At Length About Lakers Losing Out On Kyrie Irving

LeBron James is one of the greatest players of all time. He is just a game or two away from the all-time scoring record, and fans are ready to celebrate him. However, things haven’t been fantastic for James. This is because the Lakers are currently 25-29, which puts them 13th in the Western Conference. LeBron is entering the final stages of his career, and he wants to win an NBA title. Although as constructed, there is no way his Lakers are even close to making something like that happen. Consequently, there has been all sorts of talk about what the Lakers could do at the trade deadline.

Of course, the big name that has been thrown around is Russell Westbrook. The Lakers have been trying to trade him for a very long time. Now, they only have four days to do so, otherwise, they have to keep him for the remainder of the season. Over the weekend, a huge opportunity opened up on the front. This was in the form of Kyrie Irving, whom LeBron has been clamoring for since the summer. Lakers fans were optimistic about getting Kyrie, however, he ended up with the Dallas Mavericks instead.

LeBron James Opens Up

Not soon after the trade, LeBron was interviewed by ESPN, and the video is already making its way to Twitter. As you can see in the clip above, James was very honest about how he feels on this topic. In fact, if you’re Russell Westbrook, you’re probably feeling a way right now. “Well definitely disappointed,” James started. “I can’t sit here and say I’m not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent but someone I had great chemistry with that can help you win championships. But my focus has shifted back to where it should be and that’s this club now.”

Now, LeBron and the Lakers will have to continue on as constructed. While there is still hope to do something at the deadline, there is no one quite like Kyrie available. Needless to say, things just keep on going from bad to worse in Laker-land. Hopefully, for LeBron, something changes soon. Otherwise, it will be yet another season outside of the playoffs.

[Via]

Stephen A. Smith & Jay Williams Get Heated Over Kyrie Irving: Watch

When it comes to the likes of Kyrie Irving, Stephen A. has been very critical over the years. Overall, Smith believes that Kyrie is one of the most talented players in the league. However, Smith also believes that Irving has wasted his talent by doing some boneheaded things. Whenever Kyrie messes up, Smith is one of the first people to criticize him. Although that is Smith’s job, some fans have found it bizarre that Stephen A. seemingly goes after Kyrie harder than any other athlete in the sports world.

Recently, Kyrie has been a huge topic of conversation for Smith on First Take. Of course, this is because Kyrie demanded a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Subsequently, the Nets were able to get rid of Kyrie as they sent him to the Dallas Mavericks. Now, Kyrie will get to play alongside Luka Doncic, and fans are curious as to how it will pan out. As for Stephen A., he got to talk about Kyrie on First Take this morning. However, it turned out to be a heated endeavor for Smith as he faced off against fellow analyst and former NBA star, Jay Williams.

Stephen A. Vs. Jay Williams

As you can see from the clip above, it appears as though Williams doesn’t have much love for Smith. He accused Stephen A. of going harder on Kyrie than he does any other athlete. Moreover, he felt as though Smith’s criticisms are hypocritical at times. Smith was not having any of this and got heated, telling Williams that he wasn’t saying anything of interest. This led to a highly-contentious back and forth in which Williams called Stephen A. “triggered.” Overall, it felt very personal, and even Molly Qerim noted it as such. Needless to say, Williams may not be coming back to the show, anytime soon.

Kyrie is someone who always seems to invite these kinds of hot takes. Smith is certainly not the first person to criticize Irving, and he will not be the last. Regardless, it is clear that Stephen A. has rubbed some the wrong way, and that was evident this morning. Having said that, let us know whose side you are taking, in the comments down below.

[Via]

Clippers Offered This Package For Kyrie Irving

Just last week, Kyrie Irving told the Brooklyn Nets that he no longer wanted to be on the team. Originally, Irving was excited to potentially return on a long-term deal. However, his tone quickly changed after the Nets hit him with a deal that contained some unique stipulations. Overall, Kyrie was downright insulted by it all and opted to demand a trade. Moreover, he told the Nets that if he were to not be traded, he would just walk in free agency.

For the Nets, trading Kyrie was an easy decision. You never want to lose a player as talented as Kyrie for absolutely nothing. Furthermore, there are a ton of desperate teams out there who would pay a lot of assets for Kyrie. The team who ultimately won this bidding war was the Dallas Mavericks. They gave up Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round pick, and two second-round picks. As it turns out, the Nets liked this deal the most as it allows them to remain competitive in the immediate future. However, teams like the Los Angeles Clippers ultimately got the short end of the deal.

Clippers Lose Out

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a free throw during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center on January 28, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Clippers had an interesting package for the Nets. This included Luke Kennard, Terance Mann, a first-round pick, and two more second-round pick swaps. While this is a very solid offer, the Nets simply preferred what the Mavericks were giving up. For the Clippers, this was a deal that made sense given the fact that John Wall hasn’t been the point guard they were hoping him to be.

Overall, the Nets’ situation has been very interesting to track. Irving caused all kinds of issues in Brooklyn, and it was only a matter of time before this happened. Despite things appearing to be resolved, the Nets are now down to Kevin Durant and a diminished Ben Simmons. Only time will tell whether or not they can get it together in time for the postseason. Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the sports world.

[Via]

Nets Reportedly Refused To Send Kyrie To The Lakers

Kyrie Irving hit the Nets with a conundrum last week. Initially, Kyrie had made it clear that he wanted to return to the Nets. Overall, he was looking for a long-term deal with guaranteed money. However, his inability to remain active for long periods of time swayed the Nets to add stipulations to a potential contract. Kyrie was not feeling these provisions and ultimately decided to request a trade. As you can imagine, this was a very hard pill to swallow for the Nets.

Consequently, they decided to make a trade as quickly as possible. They fielded calls all weekend long, and eventually, they traded Kyrie to the Dallas Mavericks. For some, this was a very surprising landing spot for the point guard. After all, Mark Cuban has been reluctant to make big moves. However, they knew that this was the best way to give Luka Doncic a fighting chance in the West. As you can imagine, the Mavs were not the only ones vying for Kyrie. In fact, most people had Kyrie going to the Lakers for a reunion with LeBron James.

Nets Diss The Purple & Gold

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center on January 30, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 121-104. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

According to Marc Stein, it seems like Nets owner Joe Tsai was never going to negotiate with the Lakers in good faith. Stein wrote that the Nets’ objective was to avoid the Lakers. Kyrie preferred the purple and gold, although Tsai felt that it would be a bad idea to acquiesce like that. Moreover, the Lakers were offering a first-round pick and Russell Westbrook. For Tsai, that simply was not enough to justify giving up Kyrie.

LeBron certainly was not happy about this outcome as he took to Twitter with a solemn message. At this point, it is quite clear that the Lakers cannot catch any breaks. Meanwhile, the Nets are going to have a rough go of things until Kevin Durant comes back a few weeks from now. Let us know what you thought of the trade, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more updates from around the sports world.

[Via]

Chris Paul For Kyrie Trade Offer Revealed

Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving are two of the best point guards in the entire league. However, only one of these men is constantly involved in drama. Case in point, Kyrie asked for a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. This request came after a week of long-term contract negotiations. Overall, Irving felt insulted by the Nets’ contract stipulations and made it clear he wanted out. This ultimately led to a trade to the Dallas Mavericks. It was a big move by the team, and fans are curious as to how it all plays out.

At this point, you may be wondering how Chris Paul is involved in any of this. After all, he has been playing great basketball for the Phoenix Suns. In fact, just a few years ago, he helped the Suns get back to the NBA Finals. Sure, they didn’t win, although he is still a valuable member of the team. However, the Suns were willing to trade him to the Nets for Kyrie. In the end, the Nets ultimately chose the Mavericks as they had the better package.

Chris Paul Trade Package

According to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, the Suns were going to send numerous picks, as well as Jae Crowder alongside Paul. The Nets made it clear that they wanted an extra pick, although the Suns wouldn’t do it. As a result, they chose the Mavericks who were feeling a bit more desperate than the Suns were. With all of this being said, a tandem of Devin Booker and Kyrie Irving would have been very interesting. If I’m a Suns fan, however, I’m very happy with keeping CP3 until further notice.

Moving forward, the trade deadline is in only a few days. It all goes down on Thursday, February 9th and it seems like some big trades could be made. For instance, if KD is upset with Kyrie’s departure, he may just demand a trade, once again. Moreover, teams like the Lakers are desperate to improve their roster ahead of a postseason push. No matter what, the next few days will be a ton of fun. Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the NBA.

[Via]

Kyrie Irving Delivers Message To Nets Fans

Kyrie Irving stunned the basketball world on Friday when it was revealed that he requested a trade out of Brooklyn. Just a week prior, Kyrie had stated that he hoped to remain with the Nets on a long-term deal. However, it was made clear that the Nets were trying to add unique stipulations to the deal. For instance, Kyrie would only get four years guaranteed if the Nets won a title this year. Overall, Kyrie and his camp felt insulted by this and they promptly asked for a trade. On Sunday, Irving got his wish as the Nets sent him to the Dallas Mavericks. Subsequently, Kyrie Irving will get to play with the likes of Luka Doncic.

If you are a Mavericks fan, this is some amazing news. Fans have been begging for Luka to get some real help. Now, he will have a fantastic point guard who will certainly command the floor alongside him. Although some are concerned about Kyrie’s fit with the team, they have clearly improved. In fact, some believe they could be the favorites to make it out of the Western Conference. As for Kyrie, he is just happy to get out of Brooklyn. However, that does not mean he isn’t appreciative of the fans. While taking to Twitter, Kyrie thanked those who have been there for him.

Kyrie Irving Thanks Supporters

“Thank you NetsWorld fans and supporters for the Love on and off the court,” Kyrie Irving said. “I will forever be grateful I got to live out my dream I had as a Kid with y’all. It will always be Love from me and my family.” Kyrie’s tenure with the Nets was definitely difficult. That said, the fanbase was always by his side as they knew just how truly talented he was. Now, the Nets are left with just Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons, and some role players. If you support the team, it’s hard not to feel a bit hopeless.

The Kyrie experiment in Dallas is going to start this week, and there is no doubt the whole NBA will be watching. Only time will tell whether or not Kyrie and Luka get along. Let us know what you thought of this trade, down in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the NBA.

[Via]

LeBron James Reacts To Kyrie Irving Trade: “Maybe It’s Me”

LeBron James responded to the news that the Brooklyn Nets are sending Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. In a Twitter post, James pondered whether he’s to blame for the Lakers’ inability to acquire the eight-time NBA All-Star.

“Maybe It’s Me,” James tweeted. He and Irving previously played together on the Cleveland Cavaliers. There, the two led the team to its first NBA Finals victory in 2016. He’s been vocal about wanting the Lakers to make a move before the trade deadline in recent days.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates his three pointer during a 104-96 win over the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center on November 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

“That’s a Rob question,” James said Saturday following the Lakers’ 131-126 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. “You got to see him when y’all get back to L.A. I’ve told y’all a couple weeks, I don’t speak for our front office. My mindset is whatever lineup or whatever group that we have is to make sure we prepare ourselves the best way we can to go out and win. Obviously, that’s a — what’s the word you use — ‘duh’ question when you talk about a player like that.”

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets felt the Mavericks’ deal would better position them to win now. The Lakers are believed to have included Russell Westbrook as well as a series of draft picks in their package. In exchange for Irving, the Nets will receive Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick as well as second-round picks in 2027 and 2029.

The Lakers are currently 25-29 on the season, leaving them in 13th place in the Western Conference standings. The trade deadline is Thursday. If the team fails to make a move, they’ll be sticking it out with Russell Westbrook for the rest of the season as they fight for a playoff spot. Check out LeBron James’ recent tweet below.

[Via]

Nets Trading Kyrie Irving To Mavericks: Report

The Brooklyn Nets are trading Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The news comes after Irving requested a trade, late last week. In exchange for the eight-time NBA All-Star, the Mavericks will receive Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick as well as second-round picks in 2027 and 2029.

The Nets reportedly plan to use the assets they’ll acquire to further improve their immediate roster. The deadline for trades is on Thursday.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 31: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during a break in the action during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on October 31, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Spencer Dinwiddie reacted to news of the trade on Twitter, Sunday, admitting that he learned he was on the move from Shams Charania. “When @ShamsCharania says it’s time to go you pack your bags,” Dinwiddie tweeted.
“Plus Elijah said he wanted to go back home.” Dinwiddie previously played with the Nets for five seasons before an ACL injury in the 2020-21 season.

Irving leaves the Nets after spending a tumultuous four seasons with the organization. During the stretch, Irving missed dozens of games for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. He also faced a suspension for promoting a movie that contained antisemitic themes. Additionally, he’s in the final season of his deal, meaning the Mavs’ will have to work out a new contract with him in the offseason. Irving addressed his decision to request a trade on Twitter, on Friday.

“To my Peers: JUST BE YOURSelf and GROW!,” he wrote at the time. “Keep people around who CELEBRATE YOU unconditionally and appreciates all of the hard work that gets put in. Distance yourself from the folks who manipulate, hate, and hurt.”

Other teams interested in acquiring Kyrie Irving included the Los Angeles Lakers, which would’ve resulted in a reunion between Irving and LeBron James. However, the Mavericks were able to put the Nets in a better position to win now with their deal. Check out Spencer Dinwiddie’s reaction to the trade news on Twitter below.

[Via]