Irving requests trade, according to reports

All-star guard Kyrie Irving has asked the Nets for a trade, according to ESPN and The Athletic.

Irving made the request after talks about a new contract did not go to his liking, the news outlets reported Friday.

The NBA’S trade deadline is Thursday. The Nets — coming off a 43-point loss against the Celtics on Wednesday — open a fivegame homestand on Saturday against the Wizards. They play six of their last seven games before the All-star break at home; the only “road” game in that stretch is at the Knicks.

But whether Irving will be part of any of that is unclear now.

Irving’s agent and stepmother, Shetellia Irving, told Bleacher Report last week she reached out to the Nets. Kyrie Irving — whose deal expires after this season — is eligible for a four-year contract worth as much as $200 million.

“I have reached out to the Nets regarding this,” was what Shetellia Irving told Bleacher Report. “We have had no significant conversations to date. The desire is to make Brooklyn home, with the right type of extension, which means the ball is in the Nets’ court to communicate now if their desire is the same.”

Irving and the Nets were thought to be moving toward a long-term extension in 2021, when Kevin Durant signed one. Instead, Irving proved himself to be unreliable, missing games for reasons unrelated to basketball, and the Nets changed their thoughts about locking into a lengthy future with the point guard.

College football: Alabama is hiring Notre Dame assistant coach Tommy Rees to be its offensive coordinator.

NHL: A movement is growing to play more than just five minutes of 3-on-3 overtime during the regular season in the hope of cutting down on the number of shootouts. Implementing 3-on-3 already has significantly reduced how often games are decided by shootout.