Nets unwilling to sign Kyrie Irving to a long-term deal?

Things appear to be going from bad to ugly for the relationship between the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving.

Just a couple of weeks after Nets general manager Sean Marks took a verbal jab at Irving's commitment level, the New York Daily News is reporting the team simply doesn't want to give him a long-term deal.

According to the Daily News, the Nets' early playoff exit mixed with Irving's absence during an ultimately disappointing season has soured the team's stance on whether they want the point guard to return. In summary, "the Nets' championship hopes hinge on an amicable solution with Irving, whose personal decision not to get vaccinated and unpredictable injury history have left the Nets hesitant, and now, according to a source familiar with the Nets' thought process, outright unwilling to give him a long-term extension."

Not surprisingly, Irving's decision to not get vaccinated against COVID-19 is at the forefront of the team's mind. While Brooklyn seemed anxious to get him back on the court during the regular season, his decision hasn't been forgotten — no matter how good of a player he is. It doesn't help Irving's case that he missed time prior to that for personal reasons and left the team in the lurch.

"This is the part Irving must reconcile with himself," the Daily News said. "Had he not missed so many games for personal reasons two seasons ago, maybe the Nets would have looked at his decision not to get vaccinated as an outlier, as a mere personal choice amid a global pandemic no one saw coming. But Irving succumbed to his emotions after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection and missed two weeks’ worth of games. He later missed additional games for reasons he kept private.

"Then he refused the COVID-19 vaccine, leaving his teammates hanging, frustrating Harden and forcing his teammates to play above their means."

Hold on to your hats, folks. This is about to be a very interesting summer for the Nets and Irving.