On Monday night, the blockbuster NBA trade between the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks became official. Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris are on their way to Dallas with Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and two second-round picks heading to Brooklyn.
This is a trade that has shaken up the landscape of the NBA. The Nets are no longer considered title contenders without Irving but have the pieces to swing another blockbuster ahead of the deadline on Thursday. Dallas is hoping their new star-powered backcourt is enough to help them separate in the Western Conference.
This is a trade that could work out for both teams in the long run. The biggest loser from this trade is likely the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have been the only team really linked to Irving since last offseason as they sought to reunite him with LeBron James. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, that is something Irving would have been open to following his trade request last week.
“Irving’s request on Friday gave the Lakers yet another opportunity to capitalize. This time, unlike the offseason and in November, the Lakers had built a strong belief that a move could happen to take them over the top this season. Although Irving did not give the Nets a list of preferred destinations, it is believed he would have welcomed a deal to Los Angeles. With LeBron James playing at an elite level at the age of 38 and Anthony Davis healthy and finding his dominant level again, the Lakers had an opportunity to go all in on Irving.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & Dallas Mavericks Updates
There have been reports that the Lakers were the one team that the Nets were not going to send Irving to under any circumstances. They did not want to reward him by sending him to his preferred destination.
During negotiations, the asking price that was reportedly presented to the Lakers was astronomical. Russell Westbrook would have been involved, but the Nets wanted first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 in addition to pick swaps in 2026 and 2028. Along with the draft compensation, Brooklyn sought to acquire all of the Lakers’ younger talent, such as Austin Reaves and Max Christie.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & Dallas Mavericks Updates
While Rob Pelinka is desperate to upgrade the roster ahead of the deadline, that kind of asking price isn’t one he should be willing to meet. Competing with LeBron James and Anthony Davis is the goal, but sending out a package like that would have crippled the franchise for years to come without the guarantee of winning a championship.
Want the latest in NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here.
