Where there’s this much smoke, something’s burning.
Nets guard D’Angelo Russell told The Post last weekend his free-agency plans may have to wait for other “big fish.” One of those fish is Russell’s pal, Kyrie Irving, and his new home, according to reports, could be Brooklyn.
The Post reported there is mutual interest between Irving and the Nets. Now ESPN has gone a step further and proclaimed the Nets the favorites to land the 27-year-old All-Star who grew up a Nets fan in West Orange, N.J., and just bought a house in South Orange.
“I have learned that Kyrie Irving has given every indication to the Brooklyn Nets that that is where he wants to go, not the New York Knicks,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on “First Take,” predicting Kevin Durant had no such interest in Brooklyn.
The narrative has long been that Irving and Durant are a package deal bound for the Knicks, who stripped their roster down to a 17-65 shell in order to create the cap space to sign both. But the improving Nets are viewed in league circles as more stable.
“It’s the waiting game as far as chess moves have to be made. … There’s a lot of big fish out there that have to find their destinations so I think I’ll [fall in line after that],” Russell told The Post. “So whenever that times comes that I have decisions to make on my own, I think I’ll be well ready for it.”
The Nets have $30 million in cap space, even considering Russell’s hefty cap hold, and could add a max-salary star like Irving with minimal tweaking. A source told The Post the Nets would be willing to pair Irving and Russell in the same backcourt, something Kevin Boyle, who coached both guards in high school at Montverde (Fla.) Academy said would “1,000 percent” work.
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But the Nets could afford two max players by renouncing Russell and packaging a pick and Allen Crabbe in a trade. They’ve been linked to Jimmy Butler and Long Island native Tobias Harris, the latter perceived as likelier to leave the 76ers.
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The Nets also could make deals before free agency, with general manager Sean Marks believed to be looking into moving up in the June 20 draft at Barclays Center. The Nets hold picks Nos. 7. 27 and 31, and Marks has made a move every single season within a day or two of the draft.
In 2016, he traded Thad Young on draft night to get LeVert. The next year, he shipped out Brook Lopez to land Russell. And last season, he dealt for Dwight Howard the day before the draft.
In essence, it would be on brand for the Nets to make a move on the eve of the draft — even if it’s to clear space for an even bigger one in free agency.
The Lakers hired Lionel Hollins to join Jason Kidd as assistants on new head coach Frank Vogel’s staff. That’s two former Nets head coaches joining a New Jersey native’s staff.