The NBA's trade deadline is less than a week away. At this time of year, teams reveal their cards -- even if they were already partly visible. We will soon see with clarity which teams are thinking about making the playoffs and possibly making a run within them this year. We will also see which teams are more focused on the next season or even the year after. The Brooklyn Nets are a really ambiguous team right now following the news that Kyrie Irving has requested a trade.
Brooklyn's win total pulled
The Brooklyn Nets do not have a win total available right now. Looking back a week and a half ago when we published a win-total recommendation on the team, the Nets were set at 51.5 with the UNDER at -130 (10/13). The big news with this team in January was that Kevin Durant sustained an injury. They have not looked like a good team since that time.
Now, Irving wants out of Brooklyn and what does that remind you of? How about James Harden? It seems that Brooklyn is having trouble hanging onto their standout guards these days.
What exactly will Brooklyn do? When a player asks for a trade, it's hard to just ignore him. You are dealing with a quiet slump with unhappy players.
If (when?) they trade Irving, then what will they try to get back? Someone (or multiple players) to contend with right now or draft picks for the future? This news shakes up everything in the NBA: who knows where to stand with Brooklyn right now?
There were some talks on a new deal for Irving, but no deal was reached and a trade request was delivered to the organization on Friday, sources told ESPN. Irving can leave the franchise this summer as a free agent.
ESPN.com, February 3rd, 2023
Who will get Kyrie Irving?
Furthermore, whatever team lands Irving will bolster their status as a contender. What if the LA Lakers acquired him? The Bucks are a team already considered a contender that could use another guard. They've got Jrue Holiday starting but after that, their PG/SG players are just Grayson Allen, Jevon Carter, Joe Ingles, George Hill, and Wesley Matthews.
The news has definitely been negative for the Nets. They are out at 14 to 1 to win the NBA title as per bet365. That makes them the eighth favorite in a season where it was thought that they would be a core contender. Bettors that don't have an inkling on where Irving will land will have to do one thing in NBA futures: stand pat for now
