OKLAHOMA CITY — Kyrie Irving claims the Mavericks not only won the trade deal that brought him to Dallas, but also signed him to the best contract in the entire NBA, giving his former Nets team a hint of cynicism. I threw out the words.
It was a blockbuster that was truly the beginning of the end for Brooklyn's Big Three heading into the 2023 trade deadline.
The Nets have been on the high road in the aftermath of their acrimonious divorce, but the All-Star point guard has dealt a blow to his former team.
“It's the best deal in the business, baby. We won that deal!” Irving said Friday night, when the Mavericks beat the Thunder 106-98, then repeated it for emphasis. . “We won that trade!” I was the bad guy. ”
The Nets were 31-20 when Irving requested a trade on February 3, 2023.
From Irving missing two-thirds of the 2021-22 season after refusing to comply with New York City's coronavirus vaccination mandate to promoting an anti-Semitic video, the relationship between player and team A rift had developed through several events.
James Harden eventually grew tired of Irving and was forced to leave at the 2022 trade deadline. And after the Nets and Irving were unable to agree on a contract extension, Irving ultimately requested one the following year.
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When the Nets traded Irving for Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round pick and a second-second pick in Spencer Dinwiddie, Kevin Durant was left as the last star left and requested a trade shortly after.
The era of the big three is over. And after last season's struggles, the Nets are currently in a rebuilding era.
Irving plays alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas, where the Mavericks are 23-19.
Brooklyn has the seventh-worst record in the NBA at 14-28, but has the most projected cap space ($65 million) and first-round picks (15) in the league, including the most in the June road draft. Including 4 in.
If you ask me, perhaps this divorce has made both of them happy.