One notable NBA insider believes that Kyrie Irving could look to take advantage of the superstar void that the Philadelphia 76ers could have if they trade James Harden in the coming weeks.
On Thursday, the basketball world was hit with a bombshell piece of news when it was reported that James Harden did not opt out of the final year of his contract with the 76ers, and instead opted in so that he could be traded to a different team in the near future.
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It was a stunning shift in direction after all signs recently pointed to James Harden opting out of his deal, spurning interests from the Houston Rockets, and then re-signing with Philadelphia. Now those around the NBA will now wonder where the 10-time All-Star could be headed and what will be the 76ers return in a potential blockbuster deal.
At this point, it is difficult to gauge what the 33-year-old will garner in a trade after being left out of the All-Star game for the first time in a decade and with his overall game being in an age-based decline. Furthermore, trades for stars thus far this summer have seen some teams get surprisingly weak offers and returns.
Could Philadelphia 76ers wake up a quiet Kyrie Irving free-agent market?
It is quite possible the 76ers end up getting nice pieces in return for Harden but not an equal star to fill his offensive void. Well, one player that could try and parlay that situation for his own benefit is fellow 10-time All-Star Kyrie Irving. The speculation on his free agent market heading into Friday has not been strong but Philly getting involved could certainly change that quickly.
During a Thursday appearance on “Pardon the Interruption,” ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst claimed that he “would not be surprised if we see Kyrie Irving try to investigate what’s going on in Philadelphia if Harden moves out and there’s a window for him to come in.”
While at first glance it seems unlikely, a potential Kyrie Irving to the 76ers scenario would all matter on the money the team takes back in a Harden deal. If it is rich in young players and draft assets, he could fit into their salary at a reasonable rate.
Plus, being the main ball handler with reigning MVP Joel Embiid instead of sharing it with Luka Doncic would seem much more appealing for someone like Irving.