Rumors have been flying around for weeks that Kyrie Irving is leaning towards signing in Brooklyn as a free agent. Things can still change, the Irving/Kevin Durant pairing with the Knicks is not off the table (or with the Nets), but there is, at the very least, strong mutual interest between Irving and the Nets.
Last season, Brooklyn extended Spencer Dinwiddie, giving them a quality reserve point guard at a reasonable price.
Where does that leave All-Star D’Angelo Russell? Out the door if Irving signs, reports Ian Bagley at SNY.com.
Russell will have no shortage of suitors, including good teams looking for another shot creator in Indiana and Utah.
Russell is a restricted free agent and if Irving does not sign the Nets likely want Russell back. One interesting thing to watch, if the Nets rescind their rights to Russell, it would mean they are about to sign two max guys (they would need to get Russell’s cap hold off the books to get that done).
Russell averaged 21.1 points and 7 assists a game last season, shooting 36.9 percent from three. His shots started falling at a higher rate, he improved as a floor general, and his game took a leap forward to All-Star level last season.