ESPN: Nets 'Determined' to Make Kyrie Irving Trade; Want Deal That Helps Them Contend

The Brooklyn Nets are wasting no time in trying to find a trade partner for point guard Kyrie Irving, who requested a move from the franchise on Friday after failing to come to terms on a new deal.

The Nets are "determined" to find a trade partner for Irving ahead of the NBA's Feb. 9 deadline and are searching for deals that can help them remain a title contender in the Eastern Conference, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Brooklyn's insistence on trading Irving could stem from the fact the veteran point guard is preparing to sit out the remainder of the season if he's not moved, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported Saturday on NBA Countdown.

If the Nets don't trade Irving, they'll more than likely lose him for nothing when he becomes a free agent this summer.

Luckily for Brooklyn, Irving is one of the hottest names on the market this winter, with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks reportedly among the teams to be linked to the veteran.

What's even more fortunate for the Nets is that LeBron James is "an immense proponent" of making a deal for Irving and the Lakers are "operating as a motivated suitor" for the star point guard, Wojnarowski reported Saturday.

Irving did not submit a list of preferred destinations to the Nets, according to Wojnarowski, so he's likely going to be traded to whichever franchise makes the best offer.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, they can't offer much in terms of helping keep the Nets a title contender this season.

Veteran point guard Russell Westbrook, who has struggled to live up to expectations over the last two seasons, would almost certainly be going to Brooklyn in any deal for Irving. It's unlikely he could help the Nets win a title, though he did play alongside Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City from 2008-2016, and they proved to be a solid duo.

But while there's an obvious connection there, Westbrook isn't the same player he once was. He's been operating far better as a sixth-man for the Lakers this season and it's unclear if he'd revive his career in Brooklyn alongside Durant.

In addition to Westbrook, the Lakers can't really add many roster players to help the Nets contend for a title. However, they do have their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks available, which could be highly intriguing in negotiations.

The Nets currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 32-20 record, just 4.5 games back of the first-place Boston Celtics. If Brooklyn doesn't receive some solid assets in exchange for Irving, they'll risk falling out contention among the top teams in the East.

That said, the team could fall even further out of title contention if Durant ends up requesting a trade at some point in the near future, which seems like a possibility given his tumultuous offseason with the franchise that included both submitting and rescinding a trade request.

The next week leading up to the trade deadline is sure to be hectic, and all eyes will be on Irving and the Nets.