LeBron James isn’t leaving the Lakers anytime soon, but it doesn’t mean everything is kosher in Los Angeles. In fact, there seems to be some internal division about which players to go for this summer.
In the latest intel from Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha, not everyone is on the same page about a Kyrie Irving trade. Some within the organization would rather, look at players like Myles Turner or Buddy Hield.
“I think there’s a slight divide right now where LeBron wants Kyrie and some people internally (in the Lakers org.) may prefer a Myles Turner, Buddy Hield-type deal.”
– @jovanbuha on the Jeanie Buss tweet and LeBron pic.twitter.com/wJjjzo8ob0
— . (@TheNBACentral) July 8, 2022
“I think there’s a slight divide right now where LeBron wants Kyrie and some people internally might prefer a Myles Turner/Buddy Hield type deal.”
⁃ Jovan Buha while discussing the Lakers, Kyrie Irving, and Jeanie Buss’ tweet she made on 7/3/22https://t.co/9PSohEsO6s
— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) July 8, 2022
On the surface, Kyrie Irving seems like a much more lucrative acquisition than Hield or Gordon. The guy is a 7x All-Star, 3x All-NBA player, and widely regarded as the greatest ball-handler in NBA history.
But he’s also unreliable and has a track record of destroying his previous teams. Is Kyrie really the guy the Lakers should count on to save their team?
If you ask LeBron, the answer is yes, and he has been pressuring the Lakers to honor his wishes and bring him on board.
So far, trade talks haven’t progressed very far and both sides find themselves in a stand-off as the offseason rages on. But pressure from LeBron James could force L.A.’s hand. According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, James has been pressing for the front office to pull off a deal for Irving sooner rather than later.
“Kyrie, I know he wants to be in LA. I know LeBron wants him in LA. He’s been behind the scenes putting some pressure.”
With Irving, the Lakers can replace the troublesome Westbrook with a guy who can shoot and score with great efficiency.
If they lose out on Russ or decide to go against the wishes of their biggest star, we can expect Pelinka to pursue veteran shooters like Eric Gordon and Buddy Hield.
Either way, the Lakers haven’t fully committed to a single plan yet and there is no telling how things will end before it’s all said and done.
