Any self-respecting franchise should be considering whether it is wise to tie up its salary cap space for years with a player whose erratic nature can consume his franchise in endless controversy.
This is what the Lakers wanted, isn’t it?
It’s what Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka hinted at in September and again last month, when he said, “if there’s an opportunity to get all the way to the end and win a championship, there’s no resource we’ll hold onto if we feel like that’s there,” right? It’s what LeBron James was hinting at when he said he could compete with “the right pieces,” isn’t it?And how does that make them different from the Boston Celtics’ dreams in 2017? Or the Brooklyn Nets’ dreams in 2019?, spurred by the Nets’...
The last six years of Irving’s career have been a roller coaster, with few soaring highs to make up for the high-profile lows. To start with: He hasn’t played more than 54 games in any of his four seasons with Brooklyn. Some of those absences were due to injury, but playing in just 29 games of the 2021-22 season was due to Irving’s steadfast refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 – a situation that helped drive superstar teammate James Harden to Philadelphia after just over a year.
One of the biggest reasons why the Lakers’ interest can be assumed is because the franchise has made its bones by star-chasing, from Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to Shaquille O’Neal, to James himself. But while multiple franchise stars might be the cornerstone blueprint for any championship-level team, the Lakers know from experience that more stars does not inherently result in more winning.
If the Lakers find a way to acquire Irving, it seems some kind of long-term future must be inherent – especially if it costs the team real assets. A two-team deal would require another player to match Westbrook’s enormous salary, and it’s worth a guess that the Nets might want to jettison another of their pricier contracts like Joe Harris, who has missed even more games than Irving in the last two years.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lakers weighing options after Kyrie Irving demands trade from the NetsWith Kyrie Irving demanding a trade from the Brooklyn Nets before Feb. 9 deadline, the Lakers and other contenders are again weighing their options.
Read more »
Kyrie Irving requests Nets trade as tenure somehow gets more dramaticWell, guess we’re doing this again.
Read more »
Source: Kyrie Irving asks Nets for trade ahead of deadlineBrooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has told the franchise he wants to be traded ahead of Thursday's deadline, a source told ESPN.
Read more »
Kyrie Irving Requests Trade From NetsKyrie Irving Requests Trade From Nets - RealGM Wiretap
Read more »