Well, the big surprise of the NBA trade deadline — next Thursday — came early.
Kyrie Irving, who seemed to be happy and thriving after a tumultuous past 12 months that included everything from sitting out home games due to his unvaccinated status to sharing a link to an Antisemetic documentary, is now requesting a trade out of Brooklyn before the deadline.
As of publishing this, we don’t know why. What we do know is Irving wants out, and that he’s bolting the Nets this summer in free agency, a message clearly meant to say, “Trade me now so you don’t lose me for nothing.”
And after all the stuff we’ve seen from Irving over the last year, everyone just laughed:
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Here are the reports
Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency in July.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has told the franchise that he wants to be traded ahead of Thursday's deadline, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 3, 2023
So many jokes
Kevin Durant: "We're gonna make a deep run in the playoffs when I get back, Kai."
Kyrie:pic.twitter.com/badgvh0jgM
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) February 3, 2023
KD really left this for Kyrie pic.twitter.com/o16DDFKZuu
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 3, 2023
legitimately laughed out loud https://t.co/Il2ddgYXfO
— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) February 3, 2023
Most predictable thing ever https://t.co/N3NsK9ILit
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) February 3, 2023
https://twitter.com/AyeyoitsAngel/status/1621587321479987200
Groundhog Day the day after Groundhog Day…. https://t.co/xoaDZmYss5 pic.twitter.com/VwckvZyKpJ
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) February 3, 2023
He was playing great, focused basketball. But Kyrie Irving can only go so long before rolling a live hand grenade into the middle of your day. https://t.co/W92LAx22nE
— Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) February 3, 2023
“I used to pray for times like this”🤞🏽 https://t.co/qdq2dsJq9w
— Sean “Spaces” Davis (@Sean_Davi) February 3, 2023
That tracks. https://t.co/MzFYQBZTvN
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) February 3, 2023