All-Star guard Kyrie Irving may have interest in joining another superteam this summer.
NBA insider Chris Haynes just reported that Irving intends on meeting with the Suns when the free agency period begins on June 30.
The Suns already made a significant splash this offseason, acquiring Bradley Beal in a trade with the Wizards. However, they’re not done making moves.
Haynes said Phoenix’s front office is “working tirelessly to construct a legitimate championship team” around Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Irving already has experience playing alongside Durant, so the fit in Phoenix makes sense from a basketball standpoint. Where things get tricky is the financial aspect of a potential deal.
NBA star Kyrie Irving intends to meet with the Phoenix Suns when the free agency period begins on June 30, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. https://t.co/9KOjnqMu0N
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 29, 2023
If the Suns want to acquire Irving this offseason, they’d have to manipulate the salary cap to the best of their abilities.
Here’s what Haynes had to say:
It would be difficult for the Suns to add Irving due to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. If they acquired him via sign-and-trade, they would be hard-capped at the first salary-cap apron, which is currently projected to be $172 million. They also aren’t expected to have access to the $12.4 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception or the $5 million taxpayer mid-level exception at the moment.
The Suns aren’t the only team expected to meet with Irving in free agency.
Both the Mavericks and Rockets have been mentioned as players in these sweepstakes.