Kyrie Irving requested a trade and the NBA has been sent into a meltdown. This should not be all that surprising considering Kyrie’s impact on the game in the last few years. It was certainly the case when his teammate Kevin Durant also requested a trade in the summer of 2022. Now, the NBA community is eager to find out where Kyrie ends up as rumors of his reunion with LeBron James at the LA Lakers start to take heat.
Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency in July.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023
After reports of Kyrie’s trade request came to light, various sources mentioned that several franchises were interested in acquiring the Nets star. After all, Irving is still one of the best players in the league in the position even at 30 years old. There are many teams that would have a clear shot at the NBA title with Kyrie on their roster.
Will Kyrie Irving join the Los Angeles Lakers?
Kyrie’s move to the Lakers has been talked about for many months now. It certainly looks like we are back again with those rumors as the Lakers are rumored to be interested in acquiring Kyrie. To make things even more interesting, Luka Doncic‘s Dallas Mavericks are also reported to be interested in Irving.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks have emerged as potential suitors for Brooklyn Nets All-Star starter Kyrie Irving, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023
The Lakers will have to part ways with one of their first-round picks in 2027 or 2029 to lure the Nets board into a deal. This will be a tricky situation as the 17-time NBA champs will have to choose between the future and the present. Kyrie has proven that he has what it takes to perform at the highest level, and that he has a few years left in the tank. The Nets superstar has averaged 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in the 2022-23 NBA season. His numbers show that the Lakers might be tempted to agree to a deal.
Apart from that, the Mavs are also interested in pairing Kyrie up with Luka. One must admit that this would be one of the best partnerships in the NBA, considering how these two players have been performing this year. However, Kyrie’s contract demands are reportedly a hurdle for Mark Cuban and Co.
Mavs GM Nico Harrison, a former Nike executive, and coach Jason Kidd have longstanding relationships with Kyrie Irving. Dallas desperately needs co-star alongside Luka Doncic.
Big questions: 1) How much are Mavs willing to give up? 2) Would they make long-term commitment? https://t.co/FpylL9WQ6Z
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 3, 2023
His 4-year contract worth about $136,490,600 will end in July, meaning his new team would have to sign him to a new contract. The Mavs may not be willing to spend a huge chunk of money considering his age and the length of the contract. There is no doubt that Kyrie will bring quality to the Mavs side, but where do their priorities lie right now?
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