There is still a possibility the Nets will hold on to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant because they are asking for the moon and it doesn’t look like they will accept the stars.
Irving though is putting the pressure on the Nets by subtly letting them know he wants to be in LA by any means necessary.
LA Lakers’ rumored trade target Kyrie Irving sent fans into a frenzy following his appearance at the Crypto.com Arena on Thursday for a WNBA game between the LA Sparks and Seattle Storm.
The Lakers and Nets are reportedly in talks about a potential Russell Westbrook-Kyrie Irving swap. The Nets’ demand for draft compensation has proven to be a sticking point so far, but there is optimism that a deal could be done.
Irving’s appearance at the Crypto.com Arena further fuelled rumors of him potentially teaming up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the Lakers.
As such, Lakers fans couldn’t contain their excitement, with videos of Irving’s appearance at the LA Sparks’ game going viral.
Here is what the Nets want from the Lakers.
The Lakers have two tradable first-round picks: one in 2027 and another in 2029. The Lakers have been resistant to include them in trade negotiations, but a player of Irving’s caliber might represent an exception. Speaking of hesitance, the Nets would prefer not to take back Westbrook in a possible deal because of his exorbitant cap figure. The $11 million salary gap between the two point guards would cost Brooklyn over $50 million with luxury taxes factored in before considering the financial implications of a possible Durant trade. The San Antonio Spurs, with over $30 million in cap space, have been mentioned as a possible third team to take on Westbrook so that the Nets wouldn’t have to.
The Lakers have reportedly mulled deals with the Indiana Pacers (for Buddy Hield) and Houston Rockets (for Eric Gordon) to add shooting, but both players have much lower cap figures than Westbrook. Indiana could bridge that gap by including center Myles Turner, whom the Lakers have long coveted, but according to Stein, they likely won’t have the assets to land both Turner and Hield. Multiple reports have suggested that LeBron James badly wants Irving to join him in Los Angeles.
Flip the page to see Kyrie at the Sparks game.
