All of the NBA is currently talking about the future of Kyrie Irving with the Brooklyn Nets.
The guard is apparently not very happy in the Big Apple and his management and the team are at an impasse, meaning that he very well may leave Brooklyn in the months ahead.
If he does go, what teams would be willing and able to take him?
The current rumor says that the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers are in the running to get ahold of Irving.
But that might not be as easy as some hope.
If the Lakers or Clippers want to acquire Kyrie Irving, they need him to opt in and get traded there vs opting out and going there via sign-and-trade.
It's not impossible, but it's pretty close for either the Lakers or Clippers to acquire Irving via S&T due to hard cap reasons.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 20, 2022
Keith Smith pointed out that Irving moving to either of those teams via a sign-and-trade deal isn’t very realistic.
Instead, Smith suggests that Irving opt in and get traded to either team over opting out and going the sign-and-trade route.
In other words, if either LA team wants Irving they will have to work hard to get him.
It’s wouldn’t be impossible but it certainly wouldn’t be easy.
Is Irving worth it?
Getting Into Irving
Even with all the baggage he brings, the idea of him playing alongside LeBron James again is tantalizing for Los Angeles fans.
The two obviously found a lot of success in the past and they’re both still supremely talented players, even all these years later.
Irving wants to be part of a team he’s enthusiastic about.
Playing alongside his old friend James might actually bring out more spirit and commitment from the guard.
But the Lakers aren’t in the position to be making many huge moves right now; they’re strapped for cash and options.
So fans of the Lakers may not get their wish and the idea of James with Irving again may never come to fruition.
Leave a Reply