Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant possibly leaving the Brooklyn Nets marks the end of a duo that was supposed to bring a dynasty to Brooklyn. Instead, they are leaving after three seasons and only one playoff series win in that time.
While there is a slim chance the pair come back for the 2022-23 season, they’ll be hoping to get traded away. Kyrie Irving, in particular, must be really looking forward to it after declining an extension and looking to be moved to the Los Angeles Lakers. Irving even reportedly considered opting out of his $36 million player option to sign a $6 million mid-level exception with the Lakers.
The saga with Durant is going to take time because of the unclear trade value, but everyone knows Irving will not require a massive return. The Los Angeles Lakers are the only ones realistically pursuing Kyrie Irving but haven’t been very aggressive in that pursuit according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Woj: “The Lakers have yet, I'm told, to be aggressive in trying to put a deal together to get him [Kyrie] from BKN. That may come, that may evolve with time. But so far right now, there's no traction really on deals with either Irving or Durant."
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 4, 2022
“Unlike Kevin Durant, there are a limited number of teams where it would make sense (to trade for Kyrie). I do think there are going to be teams that would like to dod eal for him. It would be different to the sign-and trade he tried to get. That is where teams would have had to sign him for multiple years. He is on an expiring contract and teams that just need to improve their talent and can take some risk with Kyrie Irving.”
The Lakers have yet, I’m told, to be aggressive in trying to put a deal together to get him from Brooklyn. That may come, that may evolve with time. But so far right now, there’s no traction really on deals with either Irving or Durant.”
The latest reports for the Irving to Lakers trade indicated a disagreement over the inclusion of Seth Curry to make up the contract deficit between Russell Westbrook’s $44 million and Irving’s $36 million.
Curry or no Curry, this is the most realistic trade route for both teams. The Lakers may be the only team willing to give them a first-round pick for what could be a one-year Irving rental. Considering the team’s performance last season, they will be willing to do anything to maximize their current roster with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
