The Los Angeles Lakers had high expectations for the 2021-2022 season, but they were not met. According to Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report, there is a perfect trade proposal to make up for last year’s disappointment. That is for the Lakers to receive Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis.
The best offseason move for Los Angeles will be a trade of Westbrook for Irving. Especially, when The 30-year-old chose to opt-out of his contract in the final year, the Lakers were one of his preferred routes.
Previously, the Nets’ championship chances soared when All-Stars Durant and Irving decided to join the team in free agency in 2019. The Nets finished 48-24 that season, claiming the Eastern Conference’s second seed.
Irving joining Lakers
Irving has appeared in 103 games for the Nets in three seasons. Irving’s decisions over the last two years, including his refusal to be vaccinated, have overshadowed his performance on the court. Last season, he averaged 27.4 points and 5.8 assists in 29 games.
“Everything changes if the Lakers end up with Kyrie Irving, but nobody on Earth can predict how that will play out, including Irving himself. As it stands, the Lakers had a clear intention of getting younger this offseason, which they certainly did with their free agent additions.” CBS Sports’ Colin Ward-Henninger said.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report said Irving could be the Lakers’ most important offseason acquisition, potentially raising the Lakers’ offseason grade.
“Kyrie Irving may wind up being the Lakers’ biggest offseason addition. If he were to arrive as Russell Westbrook departs, Los Angeles would be in for a major bump up the grade scale. As unreliable and flighty as Irving has been, his shooting and playmaking could help the Lakers,” he said.
However, Ian Begley reported during an August 4 appearance on SNY that Irving was content to finish the final year of his current contract with the Nets.
“With regards to Kyrie Irving, I was told by a source close to Irving that he feels that he and the Nets are in a very good place right now, and comfortable heading towards the start of next season,” he said.
“Irving obviously opted into the final year of his deal with Brooklyn, he can be an unrestricted free agent next summer. After a lot of trade talk, there doesn’t appear to be much there at the moment, so it’s worth noting that he feels like the Nets and he are in a good place at this point, as they head towards next season.”
▪️ There is "a lot of pessimism" on a Kevin Durant deal getting done in the near future
▪️ Kyrie Irving is "in a good place and comfortable" with the Nets right now@IanBegley with the latest notes in Brooklyn: https://t.co/O7vOXAyoIq pic.twitter.com/eUgyqJOBdn
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) August 4, 2022
Westbrook’s future
There have been rumors surrounding Westbrook’s future with Los Angeles. The nine-time All-Star and the NBA MVP in 2017 is in the final year of his five-year, $206 million contract with the team.
Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 78 games for the Lakers last season. The nine-time NBA All-Star started his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jovan Buha of the Athletic said the uncertainty surrounding the player had affected his team.
“The Lakers’ grade is incomplete until there is clarity on Russell Westbrook’s future. The party line has been maintaining that Westbrook will return and conform to Darvin Ham’s vision for his role as a defense-first guard who is active off the ball. But the Lakers have notably engaged in trade discussions with the Nets and Pacers, among other teams, about Westbrook.” Buha said.