The Los Angeles Lakers keep being mentioned as the biggest candidates to acquire Kyrie Irving’s services if the Brooklyn Nets finally get rid of him. The veteran point guard was a big distraction for his squad last season, which sparked rumors about a potential breakup between Irving and the Nets.
That hasn’t happened yet, but after Kevin Durant requested a trade from the team, many people believe that Kyrie is on his way out too. The Lakers were mentioned as favorites to land him almost instantly, but recent reports suggest that ‘there’s no traction‘ between the Purple and Gold and Kyrie.
However, others suggest that another team could make a surprise appearance and facilitate everything for the Californians, while others are convinced that the Lakers can pull this off. Brian Windhorst of ESPN claims that the Lakers are the clear favorites to get Kyrie, even revealing that other things tried to get in the convo and were quickly shut down.
Brian Windhorst on the Kyrie-to-LA talks:
“No one is bidding against the Lakers for Kyrie. The 76ers and Mavericks were mentioned, and that was shut down immediately. There’s no reason for LA to put everything on the table. This could drag out.” pic.twitter.com/iHYLaKPfNT
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 6, 2022
“No one is bidding against the Lakers for Kyrie. The 76ers and Mavericks were mentioned, and that was shut down immediately. There’s no reason for LA to put everything on the table. This could drag out.”
If rumors are to be believed, both Kyrie and LeBron James want a reunion in Los Angeles, and this offseason is the perfect time to do so. The Lakers need a star like Kyrie to pull the strings, take some pressure off of LeBron’s shoulders and do more than Russell Westbrook last season.
The offseason has just started, so we need to wait to know how this situation plays out for the Purple and Gold. Irving can be the missing piece they need to return to the top of the league, and he knows that going to Los Angeles would be a good move for his career.