Despite speculation for months that Los Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James would like a California reunion with pal Kyrie Irving, the team’s recent success has shifted their plans away from Irving this summer.
From the start of the season, there were questions about Kyrie Irving’s future in Brooklyn. While things got off to a very rocky start in this final year of his contract with the Nets, he and the team got back on track after a head coach shakeup. However, the good times did not last long.
Ahead of the February trade deadline, Kyrie Irving looked to lock up a new long-term deal before the season ended. However, the two sides were far apart in years and money, and the 10-time All-Star eventually requested a trade from the team. That request was granted and he was shipped off to Dallas.
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However, before he was traded to the Mavericks, rumors around the league claimed Los Angeles Lakers leader Lebron James wanted the team to trade for his former teammate, but conversations between the two organizations did not gain much traction.
Even after the move to Dallas, there was still speculation that the Los Angeles Lakers could pursue Irving in free agency this summer. Yet, over the last couple of months, it seems like James and the team’s thinking might have changed about such a move.
Los Angeles Lakers record (’22-’23): 43-39
At the deadline, the Lakers made several notable trades, including sending Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz. The moves proved to be the right ones and the team evolved into one of the better teams in the league down the stretch, and into the postseason as the Lakers reached the second round this past weekend.
The recent success with a talented and young group that has good chemistry may have been a wake-up call for LA decision-makers that they no longer need a gifted but divisive personality like Irving on the roster.
On Monday morning, The Athletic NBA writer Tim Cato revealed some major intel on what sources are now saying about the Los Angeles Lakers and Kyrie Irving.
“No matter how close Irving might be to James, the Lakers are disinterested in pursuing him in free agency, say league sources, who like all unnamed sources in this article were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. To acquire him would require jettisoning several deadline acquisitions who have helped revitalize their season and land them in a second-round series against the Golden State Warriors.”
– Tim Cato
The Lakers will likely prioritize re-signing impending free agents like D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves this summer.
Game 1 of the monumental clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and the defending champion Golden State Warriors kicks off on Tuesday at 10 PM ET on TNT.