Do Nets actually expect Kyrie Irving to return this season?

NBA fans who were up early on Monday morning likely caught the report from The Athletic's Shams Charania that Kyrie Irving could be getting closer to playing for the Brooklyn Nets this season.

In all honesty, however, it isn't clear where the optimism is coming from or how the 29-year-old guard could rejoin the team.

Charania admitted there has not been any word on Irving finally getting vaccinated against COVID-19, and it doesn't appear the state of New York is lifting its restrictions on unvaccinated individuals entering facilities such as Barclays Center. There has also been no word from the Nets they will loosen their own restrictions and allow Irving to play with them on the road.

The only report seemingly stoking this rumor is that Irving and fellow Nets star Kevin Durant allegedly "have had increased communication about his fit on the team, breaking down the games, and about life in general."

That doesn't sound like a major development — or any kind of development, for that matter.

From the sound of things, the only way Irving will play this season is if Brooklyn trades him to another team by the Feb. 10 deadline. According to Charania, multiple teams have inquired about Irving, but Brooklyn has not engaged in any discussions.

In the meantime, it doesn't sound like head coach Steve Nash shares this newfound optimism about Irving rejoining the team.

"We just focus on our group and getting better every single day and if we get the gift of (Irving’s) return, we’ll be ecstatic but we can’t count on it," Nash told The Athletic. "We can’t wait for him. We have to get to work and get better."

That comment alone should make anyone getting too excited about Irving returning to pump the breaks.

Besides, Nash makes a good point. Brooklyn may have won two straight, but the Nets sit just a game and a half ahead of Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference standings after very narrowly defeating Detroit on Sunday. If the Nets are going to stay successful, their focus should be on getting James Harden back on the court healthy to help Durant lead the team.