One NBA writer is proposing that the Los Angeles Lakers trade for Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Mavericks:
Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris for D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Jalen Hood-Schifino
The Lakers have started the season 3-5. They are winless on the road and Pincus believes it may already be time for the purple and gold to think about trading for a third star for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks Updates
“LA probably needs to start with Russell ($18 million, including unlikely incentives) and Hachimura ($15.7 million),” Pincus wrote. “That’s enough to match Irving’s salary, but LA would end up about $350,000 over the hard cap with 13 players, one under the league minimum.”
The Lakers could start Irving, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince, LeBron and Davis if Los Angeles’ front office figured out a way to acquire Irving from Dallas.
The Lakers tried to acquire Irving after the superstar requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets last season. Los Angeles offered Brooklyn a package of Russell Westbrook and two first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 for Irving, who wound up getting traded to the Mavericks.
Irving and LeBron were a fantastic duo together on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2016-17. LeBron put up 25.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game alongside Irving, while Irving Drew averaged 22.1 points and 5.3 assists next to LeBron.
Irving has a 15% trade kicker in his new contract with the Mavericks. A trade kicker is the percentage of a player’s salary that is awarded as a bonus in the event of a trade. Irving re-signed with Dallas on a three-year, $126 million contract on the first day of free agency this past offseason.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks Updates
As long as LeBron is on the Lakers, Irving will be heavily linked to the purple and gold. The Mavericks have started the season 6-2, so they may not be looking to shake things up. However, if the team starts to struggle again like last season, we could see some changes in Dallas.
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