Kyrie Irving almost joined LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers last summer, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Irving considered declining his player option with the Brooklyn Nets for the 2022-23 season and signing with the Lakers at a significant discount in salary. However, the Duke product picked up his player option and stayed with the Nets, only to request a trade later and get traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
Irving wants to reunite with James on the Mavericks. However, it likely won’t happen due to CBA rules.
“A reunion for the former Cavaliers teammates has been a juicy talking point ever since Irving seriously considered declining his player option with Brooklyn for the 2022-23 season, sources told Yahoo Sports, to then join James in Los Angeles at a significant discount in salary,” Fischer wrote. “Alas, Irving returned to the Nets and requested a trade when negotiations for a long-term contract extension faltered with Brooklyn brass before the February deadline, which has since left both Dallas and Irving with the strongest incentive to find a new agreement before the 2023-24 campaign begins.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“The cap mechanics required to land James, however, not to mention the difficulty of filling a roster around three hefty contracts under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, plus Dallas’ depleted stash of trade assets, make any photoshops of James standing alongside his old running mate in a Mavericks jersey seem like nothing more than a fantasy.”
Irving becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. The All-Star is expected to re-sign with the Mavericks, who can pay Uncle Drew the most money. Irving averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games with Dallas after the Brooklyn trade.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
James and Irving were teammates for three seasons on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2016-17. They played in three straight NBA Finals and led the Cavaliers to the 2016 title over the Golden State Warriors in seven games.
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