09-01-2026, 08:45 AM
Kyrie Irving has a $42 million player option in 2027-28, and his getting dealt to a contender might rest on a handshake deal (like James Harden in Cleveland) on the option year. Western Conference executive: “If you have some sense that, OK, we pay him $40 million this year, and next year he opts out and we can do a two-year deal or a three-year deal at a lesser number, then I think you can do something. If he comes back and he is scoring 24, 25 points (per game), then you will have teams willing to give up a first-round pick for him. Maybe more, maybe a young player, too. But with his injury history, I don’t think you give up more than one first.”
Heavy.com
Heavy.com