Is Kyrie Irving worth the trouble for the Nets to keep him?

[brush]

It's always something with this selfish, disruptive individual. Last year when the vaxx refusal torpedoed the teams season, not to mention the ten day layoff he needed for "family reasons."

Now he's posting antisemitic crap online and now is pleading ignorance that it was antisemitic.

Even for a flat Earther, covid vaxx refuser, this is a bridge too far...I mean isn't he always supposed to be the smartest guy in the room?

If I was the Nets owner I'd be looking to separate this trouble maker from the team ASAP.

[we can do it]

1. Cavs were lucky to get rid of him.

[brush]

2. Yep, and the Celtics.

[nycbos]

3. If he can keep dropping 30 no one will care unfortunately.

[brush]

5. The Nets are 1 win and 5 loses. He's not helping them.

It is a poorly run franchise. An inexperience coach, a guard who can't shoot, and they lost Harden who was supposed to be one of their Big Three. He got fed up with Irving's antics and got out of Dodge to the Sixers.

Remember Irving already disrupted the Cavs and the Celtics, now he's up to the same crap with the Nets.

[nycbos]

7. All true.

But to my understanding amongst NBA players think he's been unfairly treated due to the fact he was not allowed to play due to New York City's vaccine mandate. All bullshit of course. If it was up to me no player who didn't receive a vaccine would play at all unless they have a legitimate medical exemption.



If he is disciplined for his disgusting antisemitic statements the players union might make a stink and that's what the owners are afraid of. In 99 out of 100 cases white people whining about "the race card" are likely racist themselves and they are angry that they can't be racist in public anymore. This is the exception. Kyrie Irving is pretty well spoken and he will say this is an example of racism and how "the black man is misstreated." I'll wager he can successfully turn himself into the victim.

[brush]

10. But being called on antisemitism is not racist.

It is what it is. He stupidly posted antisemitic crap and can't deny it.

[nycbos]

12. You misunderstand me.

I agree with you 100%. I am saying amongst his fellow players, Kyrie might successfully be able to portray himself as a victim and get support from other players who don't know anything about the history of antisemitic tropes. He can prey on their ignorance. I doubt the owners have the guts to do anything about the disgusting thing he posted. It would have to be as bad as the PR Adidas got for not dropping Kanye West before they actually do something. If the noise quiets down they're not gonna do anything. However I might be pleasantly surprised. I think Adam Silver the commissioner is a good person. But he works for owners who might be afraid to rock the boat.

[brush]

13. I think you're underestimating many players. Most have...

attended college and know what antisemitism is. And being Black they understand discrimination. They're not idiots. They know about the importance of team chemistry. And they've seen the disruption Irving left in his wake with the Cavs and Celtic franchises...and now the Nets.

[nycbos]

14. A lot of them are one and done.

And when Daryl Morey tweeted out support for the pro democracy protesters in Hong Kong, and the Chinese government went apeshit, a lot of the players took the side of the Chinese government. You can't let pesky issues such as democracy, and human rights, get in the way of selling shoes can you?

Michael Jordan refused to cut an ad for a candidate running against Jesse Helms in North Carolina because "Republicans buy sneakers too."

However, I would love to be proven wrong.

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15. Let's end this. It's pretty apparent you think the players are unaware idiots.

[nycbos]

19. Not necessarily.

Do I think most players are antisemitic? No of course not. You can want to fight antisemitism, and be unaware of the history behind some antisemitic tropes.

There are things I am ignorant about. For instance I always knew "blackface" was racist. It always seemed wrong to me when I saw it. But I was unaware of the it's origins until I saw someone I think on Facebook post a diary about it's ugly history.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. It Is My Understanding...

...that the vast majority of players, 96% vaxxed, wanted him to just get the shot & shut up.
But, the media only covered the "circle the wagons" crowd who "had to respect his choice".
Locally, several Bulls players in local media, were critical of his selfishness, including 3 of our bigger names.
I don't think his support among the rank & file was as robust as you might think.

[nycbos]

17. Maybe so.

As I said on another post on this thread I would love to be wrong.

[RockRaven]

4. Even if they wanted to, under what parameters could they?

What does his contract and the collective bargaining agreement allow? How does that work in the NBA? (not snark, genuinely curious about the details)

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6. I'm not sure when the trading deadline is but if...

I was the owner I'd be working the phones. Irving has already got disruption of the Cavs and Celtics in his wake.

[nycbos]

8. This is the last year of his contract.

He becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.

To my understanding I think they would still have to pay him regardless. Unless they can show he violated some of the terms in his contract, which would be difficult.

[Mosby]

9. No.

He should be waived, right now.

[brush]

11. I tend to agree. He's a disruptive element on a team.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. He's Also On A One Year Deal

So, the owner wouldn't have to eat a huge chunk of money.
Personally, I think he's overrated. Very, very, very good, but not great. Not a dominator or game changer.
And, he's a crummy defender out at the 3 line. He's always late on the runout, or he's headed straight down court poaching. On a team with no rebounder.
He won a championship! Yeah, as the 2nd best player on a team with LeBron James. Overrated.
And, a gigantic pain in the rear.
Not a great combo.

[SCantiGOP]

20. I just wish I had Nets season tickets

so I could cancel them and demand a refund for the remainder of the season.