NEW YORK — One day after he requested a trade, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving will not play in Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards because of right calf soreness, the team announced.
On Friday, Irving told the Nets that he wants out of Brooklyn ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline after failing to negotiate terms on a long-term contract extension, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Irving was not initially listed on the first injury report Friday, but he will now miss his third game this season because of injury — he also missed eight games because of his suspension in November — as the drama and intrigue around his future in Brooklyn grows prior to next week’s trade deadline.
Irving, 30, is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season.
Nets big man Ben Simmons also will miss his fourth straight game Saturday because of left knee soreness.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns are already expressing interest in discussing an Irving trade and the Dallas Mavericks are expected to do so soon, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Irving did not furnish a list of preferred teams, but his marketplace is small and it’s clear he is hoping that a team will trade for him with intention of signing him to an extension in the offseason.
Irving, who is in the final year of a deal that pays him $36.9 million, has been seeking in the neighborhood of a four-year, $198.5 million maximum extension available to him until June 30, sources said. If Irving is traded, he is eligible to sign a two-year, $78.6 million extension with his new team until June 30.