Irving ‘motivated’ to sign 4-year deal with Nets

MANILA, Philippines – Kyrie Irving is looking sure to be on his way to the Brooklyn Nets. 

Both Irving and the Nets are reportedly “motivated” toward a 4-year, $141-million maximum contract that will be finalized in a meeting on Sunday, June 30 (Monday, July 1) in New York, according to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Free agent Kyrie Irving is meeting with the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Sunday and both sides are motivated to move quickly toward reaching a 4-year, $141M deal, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019

The Celtics point guard will be the first free agent that the Nets will ever acquire on a $100M contract.

Irving becomes big factor to the Nets’ plan of luring NBA All-Star Kevin Durant in free agency. (READ: Durant, Kawhi talk about becoming NBA teammates)

The Brooklyn side is expected to meet with the Golden State star this week despite his situation of missing out a whole season due to an Achilles injury. 

After spending two years in Boston, Irving’s move was motivated by his displeasure with the Celtics management, coaches, and teammates. 

The former Cleveland Cavaliers playmaker averaged 23.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 7 rebounds in 67 games in the 2018-2019 NBA season, and exited the playoffs in a Game 5 Eastern Conference semis loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

With Irving in the Nets’ roster, this can greatly affect restricted free agent D’Angelo Russell, who is expected to be renounced by the team or set up in a sign-and-trade scenario. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves have expressed interest in Russell, but the Lakers have also opened the idea of a possible reunion in Los Angeles. – Rappler.com