5 potential Kyrie Irving trades for Nets

Nets general manager Sean Marks recently announced that Kyrie Irving will not participate in team activities until he is vaccinated. The current mandate in effect in New York City prevents Irving from playing in home games, leading the team’s brass to sideline him indefinitely as opposed to allowing for a part-time arrangement.

The likely resolutions to this situation are Irving getting vaccinated or the city lifting its mandate, but it’s possible neither happens come the postseason. There have been trade murmurs, but as SNY's Ian Begley has reported, teams remain unsure about Irving's willingness to play in another market.

Still, anything is possible in today’s league and either side could budge if this situation goes on for months. It’s worth exploring possible trade destinations and packages for Irving, even as a fun thought exercise.

Here are five possible Irving trade destinations -- excluding franchises in Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York, given their mandates would also impede Irving's playing time.

Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons

This was the first rumor to come out involving Irving, and it’s easy to see why. A one-for-one swap of stars in their own situations with their teams where each can fit in and compete for a championship is a natural no-brainer.

Irving would immediately propel Philadelphia back into contention by providing Joel Embiid a killer perimeter threat. Meanwhile Simmons contributes a major boost in defense to Brooklyn’s lineup, while surrounding him with the pieces to shake off past on-court issues

Dallas Mavericks: Kristaps Porzingis

Another one-for-one swap of young stars, this one nets Brooklyn an imposing frontcourt presence that is best utilized off-ball to pair with their perimeter ball-handlers. Dallas isn’t thrilled with Porzingis’s play as of late, and needs a legitimate secondary handling option to put next to Luka Doncic.

Ironically, it was Kevin Durant who first gave Porzingis his “unicorn” moniker, and having both on the same team would potentially be a nightmare for defenses. KP would need to better equip himself for small-ball lineups in the playoffs, but can break up the slight logjam in the bigs department for the Nets out of the gates

Minnesota Timberwolves: D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley

This trade serves as a big reunion between Russell and the Nets, with DLo putting together his breakout campaign at Barclays Center in 2018-19. Brooklyn eventually dealt him in a sign-and-trade that landed them Durant, but could use his scoring and passing from the one again should they move on from Irving.

On the Minny side, Irving joins fellow New Jersey native Karl-Anthony Towns and second-year standout Anthony Edwards to form a formidable offense. Brooklyn can alternatively ask for Taurean Prince back as a stretch four option instead of Beasley.

Utah Jazz: Mike Conley, Joe Ingles/Bojan Bogdanovic

The Jazz are constantly dominant in the regular season but keep failing to make their strong postseason run. Shaking things up by trading two of their good-not-great pieces for Irving could be the upgrade they need to finally get over the hump.

For Brooklyn, it gets a steady veteran contributor at the point guard who brings defense and won’t take away from their two stars. The Nets also get Bogie back in a Brooklyn jersey where he first began his NBA career, from 2014-17, years before he became an uber-confident flamethrower.

Sacramento Kings: Tyrese Haliburton, Tristan Thompson, Buddy Hield/Harrison Barnes

Maybe this move is a bit too harsh a way to get rid of Irving, but the return is hard to complain about. The Nets get a promising second-year point guard who already looks like he can contribute to winning, as well as a pair of veterans who already have.

The Kings aren’t netting a star of Irving’s caliber in free agency anytime soon, leaving their avenues as the draft and trade market. With no playoff appearances in years and an All-Star talent in De’Aaron Fox, they could look to move the timeline ahead, and a bitter Irving market would be theirs to cash in on.