It’s no secret Kendrick Perkins isn’t exactly the biggest fan of Kyrie Irving. The ESPN NBA analyst’s stance on Brooklyn’s point guard seems to be what’s been the driving force in fracturing Perkins’ relationship with Nets forward Kevin Durant. But that won’t stop the retired NBA center — and the James Harden-to-Brooklyn talks have given Perkins another opportunity.
Although the Nets-Rockets talks appear to have stalled out as Harden has added the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks to the teams he’d like to be traded to, Perkins thinks trading Irving to Houston needs to be considered if that delivers the 2018 MVP to Brooklyn.
“If I’m Brooklyn, and I’m looking to do what’s best for this Brooklyn team, and I’m looking to get better, hell yeah, I’d trade Kyrie for James Harden in a heartbeat,” Perkins told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on Heavy Live with Scoop B. “I don’t even think about that.”
Perkins isn’t the first to bring the idea up, and it still doesn’t sound at all realistic. If the Nets even wanted to entertain the idea, Durant would have to OK the move, too — and Perkins is aware of that.
Durant agreeing to that idea would be one of the most shocking things to happen in the league in a while, during an era where so many wild moves tend to happen.
“They formed this team together, so you know Kevin Durant is not going to turn his back on Kyrie,” Perkins said.
Perkins added a Harden-Irving-Durant trio would be “must-see TV,” praising Irving as one of “the most skilled guys to touch the damn basketball.”
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