There might be a reunion in the works because a few rumors are circulating that Kyrie Irving might be done with the Brooklyn Nets. According to sources, the contract extension negotiations between Irving and the Nets are at an “impasse.” This means that Irving could be dealt away before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2023. Obviously, since Irving is a big-name player, one of the teams that are rumored to be interested in his services is the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition to the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, and a few other possible suitors. It also helps the fact that Irving previously won a championship with LeBron James back in 2016. So, there’s a lot of speculation that the Lakers might try to make a move for Irving.
Obviously, Irving is a fantastic player. He’s a player that can create shots for himself and others. Not to mention that he has one of the greatest handles in the entire NBA. He can definitely fill up a box sheet for any team he plays on. It should definitely be no surprise that James and the Lakers front office would want to ask about his services. However, there are a couple of reasons why the Lakers should not pursue Irving if available.
What’s Wrong With Kyrie Irving?
The first problem that the Lakers have when it comes to Irving is that they don’t have any assets to trade. Due to the Lakers using most of their draft picks in order to obtain Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, they have little to nothing to offer. Their only hope is to use Westbrook as the main selling point since both he and Irving are in the final year of their contracts. But, that might be easier said than done. Because I don’t think Kevin Durant wants to reunite with Westbrook, and that feeling might be reciprocal on Westbrook’s end. Considering how ugly their Oklahoma City Thunder partnership ended back in 2016. So, the Nets will do whatever it takes to get another all-star in a hypothetical trade scenario in order to please Durant. Otherwise, he will also try to find a way out of Brooklyn.
Irving on the Lakers roster seems like a concept that’s better on paper. Because the main problem with Irving is his past history of drama, wherever he goes, chaos seems to follow him. His time with the Cleveland Cavaliers ended in a debacle. The same happened with his two-year tenure with the Boston Celtics. It has now led to his current situation with the Nets. Given the fact that the Lakers struggled to have a consistent lineup last season, do they really expect Irving to help in that regard? Because Irving has missed more games than he has actually played in for the Nets. So, that’s a major red flag. It just doesn’t make sense for the Lakers to get greedy once again. They should not aim for another wild card player like Irving. He may become more of a burden and a liability if dealt to the Lakers.
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