The Brooklyn Nets have shown glimpses of what they could be this season, but Kevin Durant’s sprained MCL has forced them to take another step back.
Another concern that has hung over the team is star guard Kyrie Irving’s impending free agency and the difficulty in negotiating a contract extension to keep him in the borough past this season.
He has reportedly been looking for an extension worth roughly $200 million over four years.
With both sides far apart in negotiations, Irving has asked the Nets to trade him ahead of next week’s trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Breaking: Kyrie Irving has told the Nets that he wants to be traded ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, a source told @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/ba5b0lqmI4
— ESPN (@espn) February 3, 2023
The New Jersey native is averaging 27.1 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 48.6% overall and 37.4% from 3-point range so far this season.
There aren’t expected to be a ton of teams interested in trading for him, especially given his enigmatic personality, but the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be one of those teams.
Just how interested in Irving are the Lakers?
The Lakers, of course, were hot on the pursuit of Irving last summer when he was reportedly on the market, but nothing materialized as far as a trade.
Now, Brian Windhorst reports they could again try to acquire him, but they have some reservations.
Brian Windhorst: "The Lakers position from what I understand is that: They've been interested in trading for Kyrie Irving, but they're not so sure about trading for him and being obligated to give him a $200M contract at season's end."#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/4ZJPouHj31
— 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐍𝐁𝐀 (@_Talkin_NBA) February 3, 2023
One reservation would be paying Irving the money he reportedly wants. The team has already committed significant money to LeBron James and Anthony Davis over the next season and a half, and both have player options for the 2024-25 campaign.
Another would be the cost of getting Irving. Windhorst said the Lakers would love to get him for a package of expiring contracts, such as Russell Westbrook’s $47 million expiring deal, but that may not be enough to entice Brooklyn to pull the trigger.
