The Los Angeles Lakers have made it no secret that they want to acquire Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets.
Irving’s decision to demand a trade ahead of next week’s deadline and his subsequent cryptic social media message afterwards has made a deal between these two teams likelier than ever.
A general framework for a potential swap between the Lakers and Nets exists, now it is just a matter of hunkering down on the details.
That said, no matter what, there are two players L.A. is currently refusing to attach to any deal for Irving.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers have dug their feet on as it pertains to two young guys.
“The situation remains fluid,” he reported.
“The going cost to get a team to take on Westbrook and his $47.1 million salary has been one first-round pick at a minimum since last summer. But given Irving’s on-court pedigree and play this season, the Lakers would almost certainly have to include both first-round picks.
“Protecting one of those picks could result in the Nets asking for the Lakers to perhaps include Austin Reaves or Max Christie, two of the Lakers’ promising young role players. But the Lakers aren’t interested in including either in a potential package, according to those sources.”
The Lakers have seen a lot of their young players from the past go on to become really good later on in their careers. It is hard to tell if perhaps they want to avoid quitting on guys with potential too soon, or if this is simply a hardball negotiating tactic.
An answer one way or the other should emerge soon enough.
Either way, though – L.A. has some options ahead of Feb. 9. The team is one of five squads in the running for Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls, too. Plus, they have been linked to a separate three-team trade as well.
Pau’s gift to Vanessa. https://t.co/R8PFpkpGCx
— Game 7 (@game7__) February 3, 2023
The next week will have massive ramifications.
If the Lakers can pull off a big move ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline and get their year back on track, all the early season woes will be forgotten.
Will the Lakers and Nets be able to figure a way around all the restrictions and get something done for Irving before Feb. 9? Time will tell.
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A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
