Negotiations, especially when they involve a quarter-billion dollars, can be tricky things. And they rarely only involve two parties.
So, as free agency approaches with deadlines at the end of next month, expect a lot of discussions and rumors emanating from everywhere. And that starts, of course, with Kyrie Irving.
Kristian Winfield reports Wednesday that Brooklyn is “now, according to a source familiar with the Nets’ thought process, outright unwilling to give him a long-term extension.”
The question is what does “long-term” extension mean? The Nets and Irving have a number of ways to get things done, starting with an Irving decision on his opt-out and going all the way up to the two sides agreeing to a five-year, $248 million extension.