Elsa/Getty Photos
The Los Angeles Lakers are now now not going to level of interest on a that you simply would possibly perhaps perhaps also imagine transfer for Nets level guard Kyrie Irving this summer till Brooklyn moves Kevin Durant.
“Checking in with Lakers sources, they imagine that the domino that wants to drop first in Brooklyn is finding a alternate companion for Kevin Durant. Until that occurs, the Kyrie Irving conversations will roughly be set on the motivate burner,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said on the network’s free agency special.
The guidelines comes after ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported Thursday that Irving mandatory to re-join LeBron James with the Lakers “as quickly as he perhaps can.”
The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer, Sam Amick and Joe Vardon also reported that Irving was targeted on joining the Lakers main up to the option on whether or now now not or now to now not decide-in to his contract with the Nets for the 2022-23 season.
Moreover, Jovan Buha and Amick reported that the choice of Irving teaming up with James again is a proper possibility.
On the choice hand, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Friday on First Pick that the Nets bask in “no proper interest in accommodating” Irving’s deserve to be traded. Brooklyn believes they’d perhaps perhaps now now not rep critical in return for the faded level guard.
Windhorst added that Irving would also want to wait for Durant’s wretchedness to play out earlier than potentially being moved.
Durant requested a alternate from the Nets on Thursday and Brooklyn must rep a ravishing return for the two-time NBA champion following the Utah Jazz’s arrangement to alternate Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in replace for four first-round picks and a option of gamers.
While the Nets imagine they’d perhaps perhaps now now not receive critical in return for Irving, the Lakers would almost surely want to fragment techniques with Russell Westbrook and a few draft compensation.
Westbrook had a disappointing 2021-22 marketing campaign, nevertheless he would possibly perhaps perhaps also bask in the profit of a alternate of scenery and is with out a doubt no hurry as he’s a 9-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion.
On the choice hand, Westbrook’s $47 million wage for the upcoming season is undesirable and now now not many groups had been prepared to come to a decision in alternate discussions for the level guard on legend of it.
If Irving were to crew up with James again, the Lakers would possibly perhaps perhaps also originate a deep playoff tear in 2022-23 as the two chanced on critical success as teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-17.
The duo helped lead the Cavs to an NBA title in 2016, and there would possibly perhaps be no motive to imagine they’ll’t vitality the Red and Gold to but another title alongside Anthony Davis subsequent season.
