Can Kyrie Irving’s trade request affect the rest of the league?

Here we go again.

After Kevin Durant requested a trade this past summer, then rescinded that request, it’s Kyrie Irving’s turn. The Brooklyn Nets point guard has told the team he wants to be dealt ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline, and that if he’s not, he plans on leaving Brooklyn in free agency this summer, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Irving was briefly available in the summer, as he and his camp explored sign-and-trade options before deciding to opt in to the final year of his contract and play out the season with the Nets — a season that has been filled with controversy, chaos, and, most recently, a disappointing record with Durant sidelined by an injury.

Our NBA experts tried to make sense of this latest development and what it means for Irving, the Nets and the rest of the NBA.

1. Fact or fiction: Kyrie has played his last game as a Net.

Kevin Pelton: Fact. Brooklyn already lost one season of contention with Kevin Durant to uncertainty over Irving’s availability. They can’t risk another. Unlike last year, the rest of this roster is well built to support Durant so long as the Nets can find a competent point guard via trade.

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