Kyrie Irving is set to become a restricted free agent following this season, but Brooklyn head coach Steve Nash remains confident that his star point guard will don the Nets uniform for an extended time.
“I think we all feel confident that we’ll have Kyrie back, but that’s a front office discussion,” Nash said about Irving’s future in the team, via Chris Milholen of Nets Daily
These words came after Irving has hinted on Saturday that he’ll still remain in Brooklyn after the 2021-2022 season and won’t leave his good friend and teammate Kevin Durant.
“I love it here,” Irving said. “Once summertime hits, I know that we’ll have some conversations but there’s no way I can leave my man 7 anywhere.”
Irving still has a $36.5 million player option in his contract. He may opt it out and sign a new lucrative deal worth $246 million this offseason. As such, that’ll be the case if lead executive Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai will give him that offer sheet.
As Irving has the green light now to participate in the Nets’ home games, the probability for him to suit up the white and black gear for much longer time is going higher. Marks have done a great job in strengthening Brooklyn’s main core for years to come, with Durant’s $194 million extension starting next season and keeping him under contract until the 2025-2026 campaign. Meanwhile, Ben Simmons, who landed in the borough after the James Harden blockbuster trade with Philly, still has three more years in his deal with a $113 million salary.
There’s no question that retaining one of the team’s big three players is at the top of the priorities. Indeed, this can only be determined come offseason in the side of the Nets brass.
