Kyrie Irving revels in Nets departure: “Best trade in the business”

Following a 106-98 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder last Friday, former Nets point guard Kyrie Irving reflected on the trade that sent him from Brooklyn to Dallas. 

“Best trade in the business, baby,” Irving said to Mavericks media. “Who won that trade? Who won that trade? I was bad goods.”

Bad goods? Misguided take for many in hindsight. Controversies certainly far outweighed his value at the time, though. Considering a Nets tenure filled with distractions from disputes over COVID-19 to countless absences, offensive content promotion, battles with the media, a lack of success and ultimately the trade request leading him to the Mavericks in 2023, not even touching his previous departures from Cleveland and Boston, much of the league thought the Irving we once knew was a distant memory.

However, Irving, widely regarded as one of the most talented basketball players of all time, quickly took the opportunity to prove everyone wrong.

Last season, the 2011 No. 1 overall pick helped lead Dallas to the NBA Finals oddly enough for the franchise’s first appearance since his draft class, unexpectedly turning the clock back along the way for iconic performances that would remind the entire basketball world both why and how we grew to love Uncle Drew in the first place. 

Irving was brutally honest in his reflection, but was he right?

Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick and two second-round picks was the return for Irving. Dinwiddie later turned into Dennis Schroder, who earlier this season brought the Nets two second-round picks alongside De’Anthony Melton and Reece Beekman via Golden State. Dorian Finney-Smith also allowed Brooklyn to acquire D’Angelo Russell and three additional second-round picks from the Lakers before the end of 2024. 

Remember, as the idea of a superteam completely disintegrated, parting ways with Irving obviously meant the same was to come for superstar forward Kevin Durant. Just days after his floor general's exit, the 14-time NBA All-Star yielded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four unprotected first-round picks and a 2028 pick swap for the Nets.

Bridges was later flipped for another five future first-round picks in a trade with the Knicks last summer, while Johnson is currently being dangled at the deadline as the most sought-after piece on the market.

Brooklyn now owns 15 first-round picks and 16 second-round picks across the next seven drafts, including four first-round selections in 2025, paired with a chance at reaching over $70 million in cap space to flaunt during the offseason.

Nearly two years after Irving’s trade to Dallas, although still a dangerous squad, the Mavericks look to be a borderline play-in tournament team momentarily at seventh place in the Western Conference. This Nets rebuild has to play out before anyone can just let Irving call a winner this clearly. 

Gentleman sweeps in the NBA Finals and resurgent highlight reels aren’t enough to decide the long-term impact or overall legacy of a trade.