Kyrie Irving & Kevin Durant Trade Rumors Force Movement in Nets 2023 NBA Title Odds

Welcome to the annual offseason game of "Where will Kyrie Irving play next season?" It just so happens it's getting started on NBA Draft night.

According to reports from ESPN and Stadium, there is already drama building between Irving, Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets. The official word given to Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania is that Irving has a list of teams ready to request a trade to, should he and Brooklyn not agree on a contract.

And because Durant and Irving came to Brooklyn as a package, the Irving speculation brings Durant's future into question.

These are just rumors at this point, likely spread by Irving's group to begin negotiating in the public. However, it's strong enough to cause an odds movement on the NBA Championship board.

Following the Golden State Warriors' win over the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, the SuperBook opened Brooklyn at +800 to win next year's title. Following today's news, that number has been adjusted to +1400.

The other moves are minor. Boston is down to +700 from +800 and the Philadelphia 76ers are now +1200, down from +1400.

The Warriors are still the +600 favorite. The Clippers are +700.

Irving's early wish list, should he ask for a trade, includes the Lakers, Clippers, Heat, Mavericks, Knicks and 76ers. As ESPN notes, those teams do not have the cap space to make a move happen on their own without a trade from the Nets. That list is also from Irving's point of view — not the other team's.

If Irving goes, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Durant bolt, too. While Durant does not have any trade restrictions, it's unlikely a team would send a haul for someone of his ilk who didn't want to be there.

In the hours before the NBA Draft, with Irving leaks beginning, we can now say the offseason has officially begun.

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