Bleacher Report’s NBA insider Chris Haynes believes the Los Angeles Lakers are more likely to land Kyrie Irving over Trae Young this offseason. Both All-Stars were at Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, but Haynes thinks Irving is the name to watch given his relationship with LeBron James.
“I don’t know what to make out of it [Young and Irving attending Lakers-Nuggets Game 4],” Haynes said on the latest episode of the #thisleague UNCUT podcast. “I think there’s more to be made out of Kyrie being present than Trae Young right now.
“I think there’s more smoke with Kyrie than Trae Young right now. As to what I’ve heard, there’s nothing brewing with Trae Young and the Hawks. There hasn’t been any meeting or anything like that to request a trade. There’s nothing like that has happened with Trae Young. Nothing. And we know Kyrie Irving is a free agent, so he’s going to have some interest from some teams. So I think there’s more smoke with Kyrie. Would LeBron welcome Kyrie? Yes, he would.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers have had internal discussions about what a hypothetical trade offer for Young could look like this summer, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
James prefers to reunite with Irving, but if the four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP doesn’t retire and comes back next season, LeBron wants the purple and gold to acquire an elite playmaker so he doesn’t have so much on his plate.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Young is represented by Omar Wilkes of Klutch Sports Group, the same agency James and Anthony Davis are with. Meanwhile, Irving becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Dallas Mavericks point guard was teammates with James on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2016-17.
James will turn 39 next season. He may need surgery this offseason on his right foot since he has a torn tendon.
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