ESPN analyst says Brooklyn Nets could void Kyrie Irving's contract

Kyrie Irving was reportedly looking forward to the start of theseason to play side by side with his brother Kevin Durant and lead his hometown team Brooklyn Nets to their first-ever NBA championship.

Fast-forward to a couple of weeks into the season and Irving was MIA. He claimed that he didn’t want to play and didn’t offer any kind of explanation whatsoever, just to be spotted partying in Toronto a couple of days later.

That may have prompted the Nets to speed up trade talks with the Houston Rockets to land James Harden, as they now will either have two superstars on the team at worst and arguably the greatest offensive Big 3 if Kyrie decides to show up.

Stephen A. Smith Says The Brooklyn Nets Could Void His Contract

But, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, he should get his act together right now if he doesn’t want to lose the $108 million he’s got left in his contract, as the franchise could be in the position to void the remainder of his deal:

“In reality, Kyrie Irving is going to be the third option on this team. And the question is how is he going to be receptive to that. We know that Kyrie is a superstar talent, we know that he has the nastiest handles and skills in basketball. He’s Box Office. When he wants to play he is worth paying to see play but I’m gonna tell you what I’ve heard yesterday. (…)I was told yesterday that if he keeps this up, the Brooklyn Nets may have the power to void his contract. I don’t think Kevin Durant’s going to let something like this happen. I think Kevin Durant loves him too much, he values him too much, he respects him too much, he wants it there. (…) and I do believe that because Kevin Durant is his friend, in the end, Kyrie is not going to let KD down, I truly believe that. (…) But this is a risk he is running,” Smith said.

Kyrie reportedly believes that the team doesn’t own him and that he’s free of doing whatever he wants. Well, that’s true, but that doesn’t mean that the team has to continue paying for him not to show up.

As it happens with any job, you have to actually show up and take care of all the responsibilities that come with it, no one’s going to pay you not to do anything. So he better gethis act together right now.