Badly embarked on this offseason, the Lakers still hope to benefit from the arrival of Kyrie Irving to strengthen the workforce for next season. However, another top-franchise could take the bet under the nose of the Angelinos!
Attractive on paper, the establishment of a Big Three is nevertheless accompanied by major difficulties. The Lakers learned to find out last summer. After attracting Russell Westbrook alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the franchise has brought in minimally signed rookies, who clearly haven’t performed as expected on the floor. The situation is just as, if not even more perilous this year.
Rob Pelinka still has to deal with limited room for maneuver financially, and must therefore hope for a trade of magnitude to bring his team back to the fore. The solution he favors thus consists of an exchange between the Brodie and Kyrie Irving, for which he would henceforth be prepared to make great efforts. Without it, the competition could end up overtaking it.
Miami still in the game for Kyrie Irving?
In his latest paper for Heavy.comThomas Darro takes stock of the exit doors that could be offered to Kyrie in the event of departure, and includes not only the Lakers … but also the Heat!
If the Nets are resigned to losing KD, I don’t see why they would keep Kyrie on the team. They would really have every interest in rejuvenating the workforce. In that case, maybe they should revive the lead that sends him to the Lakers. The one that leads him to the Heat too, but the Lakers seemed closer to closing a deal.
It should not be forgotten that Miami has already been mentioned in this file a few weeks ago, and appeared to be an interesting destination for Uncle Drew. However, since then, the leaders of South Beach have focused their interest on other stars, such as Donovan Mitchell… or Kevin Durant. Failing to recruit them, they could still come back to the charge for the leader of Brooklyn.
If that were to happen, the Lakers would certainly struggle to come up with a more enticing package than their Florida rivals, and therefore get their hands on Kyrie Irving. A disillusion that would undoubtedly go badly with the fans. That said, according to Dan Woike of Los Angeles Timeseven in this case, the Angelinos would have other cards to play to expand their roster:
If and when Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell are transferred, the time frame to set up a trade with Westbrook will likely become larger, and its cost more readable. Sources close to the Lakers insist they have other options than those already reported (Irving, Buddy Hield, Myles Turner and others). Time should help uncover them once those bigger moves have been made.
By dint of dragging out negotiations with the Nets about Kyrie Irving, the Lakers risk being overtaken by another team. The Heat would thus be to watch in this soap opera, the outcome of which remains difficult to predict!
