The Brooklyn Nets appeared to be true title favorites heading into the 2021-22 NBA season. After acquiring James Harden last season, the Nets had a clear Big 3 made up of the former MVP, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
As NBA fans know, few things went according to plan for the Nets. Harden was traded away before the trade deadline, and Irving and Durant flamed out in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Now, the future for the Nets is very murky. In fact, rumors have begun to swirl regarding Irving.
Former NBA player Brian Scalabrine recently stated that the Nets should seriously consider having former All-Star guard John Wall over Irving.
Would the Nets be better with John Wall instead of Kyrie Irving next year?
Hear what @Scalabrine thinks ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/P5lmP7jzp3
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) May 31, 2022
It goes without saying that Irving is one of the most skilled players in the NBA. He’s a one-time champion and seven-time All-Star. However, as his career has gone on he’s become a big headache for his teams.
This season, major drama surrounded his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine. That decision forced him to miss the majority of the regular season. He played in just 29 games this year.
As for Wall, he actually missed the entire 2021-22 season while the Houston Rockets attempted to find him a new home. The Rockets attempted to trade him, but could not find a trade partner.
Wall used to be one of the best guards in the NBA, but multiple serious injuries have forced him into relative obscurity. Still, his most recent sample size was encouraging.
In the 2020-21 season, Wall averaged 20.6 points, 6.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per contest in 40 games. Clearly, he can still produce when given the chance.
It’s unclear what the Nets plan to do this summer.
