After being linked to having serious interest in superstar guard Kyrie Irving, it seems the Los Angeles Lakers’ interest level has shifted significantly in recent weeks to a different player being their point guard for the foreseeable future.
Irving’s saga with the Brooklyn Nets is well-documented and led to trade rumors during the summer and for much of the early part of the season. The Los Angeles Lakers were often pointed to as the top — and often only — team with a serious interest in swinging a trade for the mercurial star. The same was true when Irving requested a trade from the Nets before the NBA trade deadline.
Yet, at the deadline, the Lakers went in a different direction and acquired D’Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster three-team deal that shipped off disgruntled guard Russell Westbrook.
Related: NBA Power Rankings – Los Angeles Lakers hot streak leads to major jump
Following that deal, and Irving’s eventual trade to the Dallas Mavericks, there has still been speculation that the eight-time All-Star could still be LA bound in the offseason so he can have a reunion with former Cavaliers teammate Lebron James. However, that is not looking so likely anymore.
On a Thursday edition of the “Hoops Hype Podcast,” The Athletic’s NBA writer Jovan Buha revealed the Los Angeles Lakers “are not going to be pursuing Kyrie Irving this offseason … To my knowledge and to what I’ve been told, the Kyrie ship, I think, has sailed.”
Why Los Angeles Lakers are no longer hot for Kyrie Irving
No doubt, many will wonder what has changed, since the rumors were that James himself was pushing hard to re-team with Irving.
Well, the team’s hot play over the last month has certainly had an effect as the Los Angeles Lakers finally own a playoff spot despite James being sidelined for a couple of weeks. But the real reason seems to be that they are quite happy with how Russell has fit in with their big two and they see a long-term future with the impending free agent and the man they originally took with the second pick overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
“When the Lakers made that deal [for Russell], part of it was getting off ]Westbrook’s] contract and getting out of that situation, but they could’ve potentially had Mike Conley in that deal. They looked at D’Angelo Russell as someone who could be their point guard of the future and potentially that lead ball handler and third-star type of guy that could fit around Anthony Davis and LeBron. From what I’ve been told, the Lakers have a very strong interest in re-signing him. I believe it’s mutual on both sides.”
– Jovan Buha
Since the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers are 9-5 and now reside in the tenth spot in the NBA playoffs.