Many Los Angeles Lakers fans want Kyrie Irving on the team next NBA season given his rapport with LeBron James and Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report has come up with a way for that to happen.
In a May 18 column titled “Lakers’ Hypothetical Blockbuster Trades to Shake Up NBA Offseason,” Buckley proposed that the Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell and a future first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Irving. It would be a double sign-and-trade since Russell and Irving both become unrestricted free agents this summer.
“Kyrie Irving is a natural target for the Lakers even though The Athletic’s Tim Cato reported they’re ‘uninterested’ in pursuing him this offseason,” Buckley wrote. “The Lakers valued Irving enough to offer two future first-round picks (the most they could trade) to the Brooklyn Nets before the mercurial guard was sent to the Mavericks.”
“When Irving went elsewhere, James didn’t hide his disappointment,” Buckley explained. “That surprised absolutely no one, since the pair previously led a championship run together on the Cleveland Cavaliers.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, D’Angelo Russell & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
James and Irving led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 championship over the Golden State Warriors in seven epic games. The Cavaliers were 132-51 when LeBron and Kyrie were in the lineup together from 2014-15 to 2016-17.
Since Russell has not played well for the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals versus the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers could look to move on from the lefty this summer and reunite James with Irving.
“It’s hard to imagine L.A. is fully out on Irving now,” Buckley wrote. “There are nights when this offense just can’t get out of the mud. Catch one of those, and it’s easy to see how much of an impact Irving could make with his shooting, efficient scoring and shot creation.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, D’Angelo Russell & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Irving, 31, averaged 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 60 games with the Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks this season. Los Angeles tried to acquire Irving from Brooklyn after the All-Star guard requested a trade, but Dallas swooped in first.
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