With Kyrie Irving unable to practice — and even banned from HSS Training Center — the Nets organization appears ready to play hardball with their superstar.
In a story late Tuesday by Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst report that despite “outward” support for Irving’s stand, the Nets are preparing to look at possible options regarding his future with the club.
If Irving remains unvaccinated, the Nets could be faced soon with a decision on whether they’ll allow Irving to come and go with the team in and out of New York — or just keep him sidelined all together, sources said.
The Nets have been outwardly supportive of Irving’s process to consider vaccination and believe they’ve listened, supported, and educated him, but the franchise’s collective patience will be increasingly tested the longer that Irving stops short of committing to join the team on a full-time basis.
Irving has not confirmed he is unvaccinated. Nor have the Nets, but a variety of reports, including from Woj, indicate that he hasn’t even received one shot which is all that would be required for him to re-join the team. Irving missed Media Day at Barclays Center last week, taking questions via Zoom from reporters on everything but his “personal decision” on being vaccinated. Then, Tuesday, he missed his first practice.
Going forward, the Nets have a preseason game at Barclays vs. the Bucks on Friday, then their annual Practice in Park on Saturday. They also have one more preseason game vs. the Timberwolves in Brooklyn on October 14, then after two road games to open the season, the Nets return home for Opening Night on October 24. Under New York City regulations, Irving is banned from practicing, playing or participating in team activities. He is also prohibited from entering the arena or practice facility.
He will also soon start to lose serious money under the NBA-NBPA agreement on reductions in pay — 1/91.6th of a player’s salary for each game an unvaccinated player misses in their home market because of local laws…
Here is what Kyrie Irving stands to lose financially:
$381,181 for every missed home game
2 preseason games: $762K
41 home games: $15.6M
2 games at NYK: $762K
Bonuses: $413K
Playoffs: TBDIrving is also extension eligible: 4 years/$187M
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 6, 2021
Wojnarowski and Windhorst also raised the possibility, if subtly, of Irving being moved if he doesn’t get jabbed.
The Nets believe they’re still a championship contender with a roster constructed around Kevin Durant and James Harden and could ultimately have to make hard decisions on Irving’s future should he remain unvaccinated and unable to play in the Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden.
The ultimate decision on what to do will be up to ownership. Joe Tsai, in interviews last week with the two reporters who traveled to training camp with the Nets, said he respected Irving’s decision but told Brian Lewis of the Post that Irving should remember what the team’s goal is this season: a championship. Tsai also disclosed to Alex Schiffer that he’s been vaccinated four times, an indicator his support for vaccination as a safe and effective means of thwarting COVID-19.
In his interview with Schiffer, Tsai also spoke about his role in player movement, saying he leaves it mostly to management but is “consulted.”
“If I were to interfere in decisions on draft picks or trades — obviously, I get consulted on — but if I’m trying to stick my hand too deep into the inner workings, then I might as well hire myself and run the team myself. And why would I want to do that?”
This situation, unique as it is, could change that dynamic.
