Kyrie Irving looks like he is indeed planning to sign with the Nets in free agency.
According to ESPN, Irving plans to meet with the team Sunday in New York and both sides are motivated to move quickly toward a four-year, $141 million deal.
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 Lakers and Knicks were both extremely motivated to sign Irving, but it would appear the Nets have indeed won out.
Irving reportedly opted out of his deal with the Celtics and will be a free agent.
In a corresponding move, as ESPN puts it "once Irving commits" to the Nets, the team is expected to renounce the rights to point guard D'Angelo Russell making him an unrestricted free agent.
Once Kyrie Irving commits to a deal, Nets are expected to renounce All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN. Russell led Nets to the playoffs this past season. There's tremendous league-wide interest in Russell. https://t.co/cJSryXSUJV
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019
Russell reportedly has teams interested around the league including the Lakers and Pacers.
The Nets could also work out a sign-and-trade for Russell as well as they reportedly plan to do all they can to get the point guard to a team of his choice. In that scenario they could avoid renouncing his rights altogether.
Nets will be willing to work with Russell and his reps on ways to get him to a team of his choice, including sign-and-trade scenarios, league sources tell ESPN. If Russell and Nets found a sign-and-trade deal that works for both, obviously, there's no need to renounce his rights.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019
Free agency officially begins at 6 p.m. ET Sunday.
This story will be updated.
