What is Kyrie Irving's contract with the Brooklyn Nets for the 2022-23 NBA season?
Kyrie Irving is in the final year of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets. The seven-time All-Star will make almost $37 million in 2022-23 before becoming a free agent. The Nets have been hesitant to offer a long-term max salary extension to Irving, who is in the final year of a four-year, $136 million deal.
As a player with over 10 years of experience, Irving would be eligible for an extension with the Nets, who retain his Bird rights, worth 35% of the salary cap.
With a reported 2023-24 salary cap of $134 million, Irving's starting salary, if signed to a five-year max deal would be about $46.9 million. Additionally, he would be eligible to receive an increase in salary of 8% in each year of the deal, bringing the total value of the deal up to $275 million.
With the Nets seemingly reluctant to offer Irving such a lucrative pact, the 2011-12 Rookie of the Year seems destined to enter the free-agent market in search of his desired contract. Irving would only be eligible to sign a four-year deal worth 30% of the salary cap as a free agent.
If he leaves the Brooklyn Nets, the first year of a max salary contract with a new team would pay Kyrie Irving $40.2 million. Without his bird rights, the annual increase that a new team would be eligible to award Irving would be 5%, bringing the total value of a four-year deal to about $173 million.
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Will Kyrie Irving remain with the Brooklyn Nets?
Kyrie Irving has plenty of financial incentive to remain with the Brooklyn Nets, however, the organization has yet to offer him the contract that he desires. One factor that the organization must consider, however, as his free agency nears, is the impact that his departure may have on the rest of the roster, particularly co-star Kevin Durant.
Durant joined the Nets to play with Irving, and has already asked out of Brooklyn after not seeing eye-to-eye with the organization. Letting his best friend, who also happens to be the second-best player on the roster, walk in free agency could create irreparable damage to Durant's relationship with the front office.
It remains to be seen if Brooklyn will offer Irving a max deal, but the organization does hold some leverage. They could allow the three-time All-NBA selection to test the market and match, or beat, any contract offer he receives. Of course, playing hardball may just end up pushing Irving out of town.
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