East Notes: Nets, Kyrie Irving, Pistons, Pacers, Myles Turner

Nets

Star guard Kyrie Irving isn’t likely to be suspended after sharing a link to an anti-Semitic movie on Twitter, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Irving has since deleted the tweet after at first refusing to take it down.

Nets owner Joe Tsai publicly condemned Irving’s decision to share the link in a tweet of his own.

“The social media posts from, @KyrieIrving, are troubling,” Tsai wrote. “The book and film he promotes trade in deeply #antisemitic themes including those promoted by dangerous sects of the Black Hebrew Israelites movement. Irving should clarify now.”

Nets GM Sean Marks indicated that anything further involving Irving would be handled in-house, per Lewis.

“I respect what Joe said, but there has a lot to do with the, not ego or pride of how proud I am to be an African heritage, but also to be living as a free black man here in America, knowing the historical complexities for me to get here,” Irving said, via Lewis. “So I’m not going to stand down on anything that I believe in. I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.” 

Irving, star forward Kevin Durant and the Nets stood at a disappointing 1-5 entering Monday’s game against the Pacers.

Pistons

The Pistons defeated the Warriors for the first time since 2020 on Sunday night, prompting NBA TV analyst Sam Mitchell to call Detroit “vastly improved.”

Coach Dwane Casey added it just goes to show that anything is possible with a young and hungry club.

“That’s what happens with a young, rebuilding team,” Casey told reporters. “There are going to be nights like this where people are going to say, ‘Whoa, where did that come from?’ That’s exciting.”

Center Isaiah Stewart said the win could be a sign of things to come.

“I think tonight we showed what Pistons basketball is going to be,” Stewart said. “We played defense the way we needed to play it every night, and on offense we were sharing the ball and making sure everyone got shots.”

• In case you missed it, the Pistons have officially announced a contract extension for forward/guard Bojan Bogdanovic. You can read that full post here.

Pacers

Center Myles Turner said he could offer a struggling team for the Lakers something that they may be lacking.

“It’s such an intriguing question,” Turner said, via the podcast from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “I think personally when you look at this business of the league and look at the landscape of the league, you have to go off your future — we all know picks are so valuable in this league — and someone like myself, I’m going into the last year of my deal and you want to make sure you’re getting a return for your assets. If I’m the Lakers, I take a very hard look at this with the position that you’re in.”

The Lakers and Pacers reportedly have held trade talks centered on Lakers guard Russell Westbrook, Turner and Pacers shooting guard Buddy Hield. LA is said to be hesitant to surrender its next two trade-eligible first-round picks in 2027 and ’29, which is believed to have caused the Pacers to end discussions.

“I know what I can provide a team — my leadership, my shot-blocking, my 3-point ability, and just my ability to make plays out there on the floor,” Turner said, via Wojnarowski. “And I’d take a very long look at it, but as far as pulling the trigger, I get paid to shoot not to make these calls so I can’t answer that.”