“Not so sure,” Renowned NBA analyst analyzes the Lakers’ chances of acquiring Kyrie Irving post his mega call to ditch the Nets
NBA analyst Brian Windhorst speaks on Lakers mindset and reservations behind acquiring Kyrie Irving.
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Kyrie Irving
After a turbulent start to the season, things in Brooklyn were going a little too nicely. Sure, they had slowed down a little in recent weeks after Kevin Durant had an injury, but once he was back, everything was anticipated to be fine. Then, on Friday, shocking information came out regarding Kyrie Irving. Irving reportedly has asked for a trade from the Brooklyn Nets after failure to agree upon a contract.
The Los Angeles Lakers were the first team that came to mind when Kyrie Irving demanded a trade after he and the team were unable to come to an agreement on an extension. They were reportedly one of the clubs interested in Irving shortly after his call, but it seems the front office isn’t convinced to make the move. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Lakers are hesitant to trade for Kyrie because of the summer deal he would demand.
Speaking on the matter he said, “The Lakers’ position, from what I understand, is they’ve been interested in trading for Kyrie Irving but they’re not so sure about trading for him and being obligated to give him a $200 million contract at season’s end. And so if they could get Kyrie Irving for basically next to nothing—expiring contracts—that would be something they would entertain.”
It won’t just be the Lakers who have second thoughts about offering Irving that kind of contract in the summer. Given Kyrie’s prior behavior, it is a risk that no one should take, but this kind of scenario is the reason the Lakers held onto their first-round picks.
Related: WATCH: Celtics fans stomp on Kyrie Irving’s Boston’s jersey outside TD Garden
Should the Lakers acquire Kyrie Irving from the Nets?
If ever there was a win-now maneuver, this is it. On paper, a big three of Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis appears to be unstoppable, and it is difficult to imagine any Western Conference team being able to handle them.
LeBron James and Irving would reunite if the Lakers acquired Irving, though. They won the NBA championship in 2016 while playing together for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2017. Irving would join a Lakers club that is now 25-28 and fighting merely to make the playoffs, but somehow L.A. is only three games behind fourth in the Western Conference, which is rife with parity.
On the other hand, if they decide against offering him the maximum salary he obviously wants, the Lakers would be setting themselves up for a challenging future. Any deal would surely require them to forfeit both of those first-round picks, which would entail giving away the future for a one-year lease. In the end, it really just boils down to how eager they are to capture another championship.
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Abhivyakt Sharma
(270 Articles Published)