Kyrie Irving wants out of Brooklyn, according to multiple reports saying the Nets All-Star has requested a trade.
If the Nets decide to oblige and deal the guard before Thursday’s deadline, the question becomes which teams are best suited to land him. FTW did a ranking of the top five teams that make the most sense, and while the Los Angeles Lakers came in fifth, they have a lot of reasons to make sure a deal gets done.
Irving has long been tied to the Lakers because of his relationship with LeBron James. And oddsmakers at PointsBet think that’s exactly where he’ll end up, setting the Lakers as favorites.
Odds for Kyrie Irving's next team at @PointsBetUSA (in select states):
Lakers +125
Heat +275
Mavericks +375
Clippers +400
Bulls +700
Hawks, Jazz 10-1
T'Wolves 14-1
Kings 20-1— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) February 3, 2023
With the Lakers as Irving’s anticipated landing spot, it’s no surprise their title odds are also spiking.
Before the trade request, LA had +4000 odds at BetMGM to win this year’s championship. Now those odds are up to +2000, which are still just tied for sixth in the Western Conference but far better than their 12th place in the standings.
.@Lakers odds to win NBA Championship at @BetMGM
+4000: Before Kyrie trade request
+3000: After
+2000: Now pic.twitter.com/A06nxnF22V
— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) February 3, 2023
It’s not clear exactly what the Lakers would have to give up to land Irving, but according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, there’s a “reluctance” for teams to make significant offers of assets.
The Lakers could potentially make a significant upgrade to their roster without giving up much, which is why their sudden better odds make sense (and why Brooklyn’s odds are sinking). The same goes for some of the other betting favorites to land Irving, including the Heat, Mavericks and Clippers.
