Over a week after it was reported the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets had opened up talks on a potential Kyrie Irving trade, nothing has progressed on that front.
While some feel Irving will eventually be a Laker, perhaps by the end of this summer, plenty of people are feeling skeptical that L.A. will consummate such a deal.
A new report from Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports that a “source close to Irving” claims the talented guard wants to stay in Brooklyn and that, in fact, he never wanted out in the first place.
Via New York Post:
“Another source close to Irving told The Post that the All-Star point guard not only never asked for a trade, but has had every intention of playing for Brooklyn — with or without Durant.
“‘How did we get into this situation about trade, when he opted in?’ the source asked rhetorically. ‘Here is the situation. He opted in, which means he had and he has every intention of playing with the Brooklyn Nets. KD decides he wants out and now everybody is talking about trading Kyrie, right?
“‘Kyrie has not asked for a trade. Now, if the Nets don’t want him, that’s something totally different. Kyrie has not said he wants a trade. He opted in. [So where did] the trade conversations come from? Is it because, KD requested a trade and now everybody’s like let’s trade Ky? Kyrie opted in.'”
At this point, just about every report about a possible Irving trade should be taken with a grain of salt, as the reports that have come out have seemingly been all over the place.
There have been different accounts of what may be holding up a trade, from the Lakers’ preference to receive Seth Curry instead of Joe Harris to make salaries match, to their reluctance to give up more than one first-round draft pick.
Jovan Buha on ESPNLA right now: Lakers don’t want to give up a 2nd first round pick. If Lakers were to give up a 2nd first Kyrie would be a Laker right now.
— Swiderman (@LeSwiderman) July 12, 2022
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Given that it is a paper from the Nets’ market, the New York City metropolitan area, there is always a chance it is merely a leak from the team with the intent of posturing and making the Lakers anxious so they would give up more for Irving.
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