Kyrie Irving requests trade, to leave Nets in free agency without deal

According to multiple reports, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irvinghas requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets before the Feb. 9deadline. Shams Charania of The Athletic was the first to reportthe stunning news.

Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star KyrieIrving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic@Stadium. Thefranchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead ofthe Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency inJuly.

Per Charania, if Irving doesn't get moved by the deadline, hewill leave the Nets in free agency and the team will have lost himfor nothing. The Nets and Kyrie have been unable to reach anextension agreement to this point, with Irving's agent Shetellia Riley Irving sayingrecently that "the ball is in the Nets court."

Substack's Marc Stein adds that the Nets' strategy to this pointis to focus on playing out the season. The organization believesthat Irving likely needs a sign-and-trade in the summer to get to afavorable destination.

The Nets' strategy to this point, as Ireported earlier this week, has been to focus on playing out theseason without extending Kyrie Irving's contract ... believingIrving likely needs a sign-and-trade in the summer to get toanother destination he likes. Kyrie's counter today: https://t.co/ZusHGodbRE

Irving was named an All-Star starter one week ago to representBrooklyn. The 30-year-old is having an incredible season, averaging27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game on.486/.374/.883 shooting splits. He's helped guide the Nets duringKevin Durant's absence, as the team boasts a 31-20 record and sitsin fourth place in the Eastern Conference.