As the 2022 offseason rolls on, there is a strong sense that the Kyrie Irving sweepstakes could drag on for weeks or even months. Currently, both sides are in a stalemate as they wait out the other for more leverage in negotiations.
Now, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are turning up the pressure for Brooklyn to agree to a deal. At some point during the Las Vegas summer league, Rob Pelinka and nets GM Sean Marks will sit down face-to-face and try to work out a trade that makes everyone happy. If not, they could transition to plan b.
Report: Lakers will have face-to-face conversation with Sean Marks and Nets to see if they can get a deal done for Kyrie Irving, per @mcten
If LA feels there won’t be a trade, they will shift their focus to Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon. pic.twitter.com/odjobXlgQB
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) July 7, 2022
Irving remains L.A.’s top priority, but the Lakers do have other options if that pursuit falls apart. Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon, for example, both provide enough shooting to help the Lakers next season.
“If Kyrie doesn’t work out, they have plans in place — or plans they hope they’ll be able to execute — to achieve shooting on that roster in other directions. Whether that be a veteran like Buddy Hield, who they almost got on last year on draft day and you see Indiana just traded away Malcolm Brogdon and there could be more moves to come, or perhaps a guy like Eric Gordon in Houston,” reported McMenamin earlier this week. “Those guys aren’t Kyrie Irving, of course, but they are players they feel they may be able to acquire to help their team.”
This is just L.A.’s latest attempt to gain leverage in an Irving deal. As the only team currently in talks to acquire Kyrie, it makes no sense for the Lakers to try and outbid themselves.
By turning the heat up on Sean Marks on the Nets, they are only increasing the odds of a deal getting done. If not, they have a backup plan in their back pocket.
Either way, things appear to be reaching a breaking point in the Durant/Irving trade saga. Each passing hour is just another step closer to finding out how all of this ends.
