Kyrie Irving expressed optimism Thursday night that an eventual relaxation of COVID-19 vaccination mandates could alter his part-time status with the Nets at some point this season.
General manager Sean Marks, whose sinking team executed the blockbuster trade of James Harden on Thursday, shortly before losing its 10th consecutive game, also sounds hopeful the unvaccinated Irving eventually will be able to participate in home games in Brooklyn.
“The decision on the [New York City] mandate, that’s obviously far above my pay grade and not something that I’m overly concerned about now,” Marks said Friday. “I mean, I think we’re always going to be optimistic.
“I just look around the world and I see things are changing, whether it’s the mask mandates, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and then you’ve got entire countries who are changing their outlook on Omicron and COVID and so forth. So again, far bigger discussion. My hope would be that by the time we roll around the playoffs, if not sooner, the world looks like a different place and the more people that are vaccinated and so forth and we’re moving on.”
Sean Marks (top right) remains ‘optimistic’ Kyrie Irving can play home games this season. Getty, Charles Wenzelberg 
Irving’s availability only for most road games is believed to have been a contributing factor in Harden’s desire to leave. The Nets obliged Harden with a deal to the 76ers that brought Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks to Brooklyn ahead of the trade deadline.
“I think the most frustrated person in this whole thing is Kyrie,” Marks said. “I mean, Kyrie is frustrated with the fact that he’s not able to be out there. … He’s obviously hoping for things to look different in the future here and for him to be able to participate in home and road games.”
Curry and Drummond are expected to be available to join the Nets’ lineup ahead of Simmons (who hasn’t played this season, partly due to mental health issues) — possibly as early as the game Saturday at Miami. Curry owns a career shooting percentage of 43.7 percent from 3-point range, while Drummond has led the NBA in rebounding four times, with a career average of 13.4 per game.
“Those are, honestly, deficiencies in the roster right now. Deficiencies in our play. I think we all see that we need them,” Marks said. “I know our coaches are excited to add all three to the group.”
Curry and Drummond officially have been listed as questionable for Saturday, while Kevin Durant (MCL), LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle), Nic Claxton (hamstring) and Joe Harris (ankle) remain out.
