Kevin Durant wants Kyrie Irving back

Shams Charania: There is renewed optimism and I think a lot of that surrounds the enthusiasm that has increased in the conversations that have taken place, the increased communication that’s taking place between Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. I mean, those guys are close. And we saw what Kevin Durant did last night 51 points. He’s obviously either the top MVP candidate or is one of the top MVP candidates. So it’s clear that possibly this renewed optimism can be tied to the fact that those two guys are starting to talk a lot more about Irving’s fit on this team breaking down games, breaking down life in general. And it started a back and forth that from what I’m told, really started to elevate after Thanksgiving. But after it started to escalate, and continue to elevate with those two, I think it’s given some new renewed optimism about a possible return. -via Apple Podcasts / December 14, 2021

Shams Charania: I’m not sure if there is wiggle room, there might not be but I think that it’s clear that the players and the coaches want Kyrie Irving to be back in the lineup ASAP. So from what I’m told the players want Kyrie Irving back. And so, does management? Does ownership? Do they look at that and open that door? One of those avenues is how Kyrie Irving finds himself back on the floor, either fulfilling the vaccine mandate, or the door opening to him starting to play on the road and practice at home. There were conversations before that October 12 decision was made about whether it would be feasible, and clearly the players on the current roster didn’t believe it would be. Now has that changed in the last few weeks? Could that now be tenable? Could that now be what the players want? I think those are all questions that I’m not here to answer but those are all the questions that I believe exist. -via Apple Podcasts / December 14, 2021