The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly one of the teams interested in Kyrie Irving’s services after the latter requested the Brooklyn Nets for a trade.
Irving’s shock request also saw reports of multiple teams looking to sign the Nets guard, of which the Lakers were pegged as one of the frontrunners.
Lakers Insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic detailed the possibility of what LA’s trade with Brooklyn could be like, and it included doing away with their future picks.
The Lakers have an interest in acquiring Irving, according to multiple league sources who were granted anonymity to speak freely on the subject. The framework of a potential deal would be Russell Westbrook and the Lakers’ 2027 and 2029 first-round picks — with the Lakers pushing to add lottery protection to at least one of them — in exchange for Irving and another Nets role player (likely Joe Harris), according to those sources.
He further added that there could be the possibility of a third team involved so that the Lakers could reroute their picks and give the players to the Nets, who keep them the prime playoff contenders that they are now.
Lakers Are Reportedly Reluctant To Trade For Kyrie Irving As They Are Not Keen On Ponying Up $200 Million
Talent comes at a price, especially if that’s Kyrie Irving. The Lakers are not alien to making some blockbuster moves, even if it means breaking the bank, but in this case, they’re reportedly reluctant to trade for the 30-year-old.
His off-court drama aside, Irving’s demand for an exorbitant contract is one of the reasons behind the hesitation. Per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst:
“They’re not so sure about trading for him and giving him a 200 million dollar contract at season’s end.”
– ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Lakers interest in Kyrie Irving
(h/t @Alec_Sturm ) pic.twitter.com/jQHl3heiGV
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 3, 2023
“They’re not so sure about trading for him and giving him a 200 million dollar contract at season’s end.”
It’s safe to say that there will be some negotiations. No team would be willing to shell out the kind of moolah he’s expecting, but with the Lakers still having their trump cards in the form of their picks, chances are that it helps sweeten the deal.
Only time will tell if the Lakers pull the trigger on this trade. What it surely does is instantly elevate them to title contenders, given the form LeBron James and Anthony Davis are in. Whether GM Rob Pelinka decides to make the move remains to be seen.
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