Kyrie Irving will be the center of media attention as we approach the offseason given his uncertain future contract status.
Irving has been linked to the Lakers in free agency for the last year and the Dallas Mavericks will be wary of what’s happening, especially after seeing Irving courtside for the Lakers elimination game against the Denver Nuggets.
Kyrie is at the game tonight. 👀🔥
(via @SportsCenter)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 23, 2023
Dave McMenamin revealed that Trae Young is also in attendance, with both players also having attended playoff games earlier in this run.
Kyrie Irving is back sitting courtside on the baseline opposite the Lakers’ bench. Trae Young is sitting courtside on the baseline near the Lakers bench. They’ve both been to multiple Laker playoff games this postseason.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 23, 2023
The Lakers will likely have to lose Rui Hachimura as a free agent this summer if they want Irving, which may be a bad move given the value Hachimura has given LA in the playoffs. Agents around the NBA believe Irving agreed on a handshake contract extension with Dallas after he was traded, so it does look like Irving could be returning to playing alongside Luka Doncic.
Will A Sweep Change The Lakers Plans?
The reason for the Lakers’ success after the February trade deadline was that they added depth through three players for Russell Westbrook. No matter how sensational Irving is on the court, there is no point in sacrificing their depth for a top-heavy lineup with players that won’t play more than 60 games a season. They need to be cautious about not bringing back the depth that they do have.
Hachimura and Austin Reaves need to be retained regardless of the cost, given the value that they have shown for this squad. D’Angelo Russell is not worth $30 million a year, but maybe the Lakers can extend him on a team-friendly contract and bring him back. It’s an exciting free agency for LA, but they may undo everything they’ve achieved by getting rid of depth for an inconsistently available superstar.
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