The Brooklyn Nets threw some gasoline onto the pile of rumors about Kyrie Irving when they created even more salary cap space with a trade on Thursday.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Nets sent their first round pick from this year and a future first round pick along with Allen Crabbe to the Atlanta Hawks for Taurean Prince and a 2020 second round pick. There have been rumors for weeks about Kyrie Irving’s interest in Brooklyn and Woj confirmed that the two have their sights set on each other.
The Lakers have also been rumored to be in pursuit of Irving, as the detente between he and LeBron James has made a reunion a real possibility. However, the Lakers may struggle to contend with the Nets if Brooklyn is able to somehow get in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes or get Kevin Durant to join up. If the Nets renounce restricted free agent D’Angelo Russell, they could sign Irving and Durant.
With Brooklyn’s willingness to attach two picks to Crabbe in a salary dump seems like the biggest indication yet that they’re big game hunting, putting the Lakers and the rest of the NBA on notice.
