(Photo: Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports/REUTERS)
Kyrie Irving is among the hottest items going into the NBA free agency this summer and if reports are true, the All-Star has already decided on where to go next from Boston. The talks of Irving heading west to join the Los Angeles Lakers appear to have died down by now. It seems New York is Irving's next playground, possibly with the Brooklyn Nets.
The latest word from Bleacher Report indicates Irving is dead "serious about signing the Nets." And the feeling is mutual as the team apparently is moving heaven and earth to secure a deal with the NBA champ, added the report, which cited NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski as source of its information.
But would it truly make a huge difference for the Nets to land Irving? As things stand now, it's crystal clear that Brooklyn's fortune is rising, which is best personified by D'Angelo Russell - the former Laker who carved a spot in New York and is presently considered a key player for the Nets.
Consider that the Nets did well in the regular season and much of the credit was due to the team's vaunted backcourt, in which the definitive mover and shaker is Russell, Clutch Points said in an opinion piece. It sure looks like that adding Irving to the mix will make the Nets stronger than ever, and why not. The backcourt tandem of Russell and Irving seems a juggernaut in the making.
But the same op-ed is not buying as things are more complicated in real hardcourt scenario.
"On paper, it looks good, but truth be told, it just won't work. Both players are eat-the-clock ball handlers. The Brooklyn Nets have one option here. It's either Irving or Russell," the article said.
In other words, the Nets lineup is a winner as it is but tweaking it a bit will certainly boost its chances of making it to the Finals. The backcourt though is not where the reconfiguring needs to happen. For the Nets to gain more strength, the frontcourt needs to get beefed up.
Kyrie Irving is not exactly what the Nets need right now. What he can bring to the team, Russell is able to deliver. The focus instead is to shop for frontcourt free agents in the mold of Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, Clutch Points said.
Besides, Russell appears completely happy with the status quo on Brooklyn. "If we're being completely honest, I enjoyed the team that we had this whole season ... and the pieces we had around," the Nets point guard was quoted as saying.
And should the equilibrium is disturbed and Russell suddenly becomes unhappy, he can always look for a better place, which can be anywhere on the following: the Utah Jazz, the Orlando Magic, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Indiana Pacers. All teams have expressed interest to see Russel on their rosters.
