Nets star Kyrie Irving’s trade value is described as ‘RADIOACTIVE’ by NBA insider

Kyrie Irving’s commercial value has been described as “radioactive,” according to NBA insiders who spoke to ESPN’s Zach Lowe after the Brooklyn Nets star sparked accusations of anti-Semitism with a recent Twitter post.

“I’ve been talking to a lot of people in the league this weekend and the feeling I’m getting now is that he’s radioactive,” Lowe told ESPN’s Nick Friedell on a statement. recent podcast episode. “Even if you drop the price to nothing, the baggage is just too much.”

Irving sparked controversy last week after sharing an Amazon link to the 2018 film ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America’. The film is based on a 2015 book of the same name, which Rolling Stone described as “poisonous.” anti-Semitic’. In particular, it cites Hitler to convince the public of the existence of a Jewish plan for world domination.

Since Irving posted the Amazon link to the film on Twitter, Irving has been arguing with the media on Saturday, telling reporters, “I’m not going into anything I believe in.” He then appeared to come back on Sunday by deleting the post without explanation.

Irving was unavailable to reporters after Monday’s game, but has since released a statement denying anti-Semitism. And though he stopped offering an apology, Irving donated $500,000 “to charities and organizations working to eradicate hate and bigotry in our communities.” That donation has been matched by the Nets.

“I am against all forms of hatred and oppression and stand for communities that are marginalized and affected every day,” Irving said in the statement.

‘I am aware of the negative impact of my position on the Jewish community and I take my responsibility. I don’t believe anything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles.’

The tumultuous week for the Nets was only compounded by the resignation of head coach Steve Nash on Tuesday amid a 2-5 start. Assistant Jacque Vaughn served as interim head coach in Tuesday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, but multiple reports say Nets general manager Sean Marks is interested in hiring shocked and suspended Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, who is got a seasonal ban. about allegations of an inappropriate affair with a team member.

According to ESPN, the Celtics wouldn’t stop the Nets from hiring Udoka.

The uproar has prompted many in the media to trade or release Irving. Former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks (no relation to Sean) told ESPN that Irving should be fired over the controversy.

“How many chances is this organization going to give Kyrie Irving?” asked Bobby Marks rhetorically. ‘Enough is enough. I am not speaking from a trading standpoint.

“I understand Ime Udoka is the last person who could rule this group, but if you’re the front office in Brooklyn, send him home. You don’t need Kyrie Irving.”

If there is a potential trade destination for Irving, a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers could make sense. LA could fire former MVP Russell Westbrook, who has struggled with his shooting and, like Irving, is a free agent after the season. In addition, Irving would have the chance to reunite with his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, LeBron James, with whom he won his only NBA title in 2017.

But as Lowe said on his podcast, even that isn’t possible.

“You want to talk about the Lakers, the most desperate team in the league,” Lowe said. “Okay, the Lakers are also playing in a giant cosmopolitan city. All residents follow this story.

“I just don’t know what else to do.”

Of course, Irving’s recent Twitter controversy isn’t the only issue surrounding the All-Star guard.

The 30-year-old raised eyebrows last month for sharing a 2002 video by conspiracy theorist Jones on his Instagram story.

The video, titled “Never Forget – Alex Jones Tried To Warn Us,” hints at a “New World Order” that would “drive away plagues.”

In the video, Jones said, “Yeah, there have been corrupt empires. Yes, they manipulate. Yes, there are secret societies. Yes, there have been oligarchies throughout history.

“And yes, today, in 2002, there is a tyrannical organization that calls itself the New World Order… by bringing diseases, viruses and pests at us, we are essentially being pushed into their system.”

The 2002 clip of Jones — who had to pay nearly $1 billion to the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook mass shooting — was one of several videos shared with Irving’s story at the time.

He did speak to Jones when he spoke to reporters about his recent tweet on Saturday.

“I don’t support Alex Jones – position, story, lawsuit he had with Sandy Hook or any of the kids who felt they had to relive trauma or the parents who had to relive trauma or rejected all lives lost.” gone during that tragic event,” Irving said.

“My post was a post by Alex Jones he did in the early 90’s or late 90’s about America’s secret societies of occults, and it’s true.”

Irving, who serves as vice president of the players’ association executive committee, has also posted videos discussing a range of topics, including the death and decolonization of Queen Elizabeth II.

Irving is no stranger to conspiracies who have long been willing to embrace theories such as that the Earth is flat or that the moon landing was staged.

The unvaccinated basketball star was unable to play most home games in Brooklyn last season because he failed to meet a New York City workplace vaccination mandate. The mandate has since been lifted.

In October 2021, he began following and liking Instagram posts from a conspiracy theorist who claimed that “secret societies” are implanting vaccines in a plot to connect black people to a master computer for “a Satan’s plan.”

When he apologized in October 2018 for his endorsement of the flat Earth “theory,” Irving admitted to being a conspiracy theorist.

‘I certainly was at the time,’ ‘I’m a great conspiracy theorist. You can’t tell me anything.” I’m all sorry,” Irving said.

“Even if you believe in that, don’t come out and say things like that. That is for intimate conversations, because perception and how you are received changes. I’m actually a smart person,” he explained, 18 months after first telling an interviewer, “The Earth is flat. The earth is flat.. It’s right in front of our faces.’