On Thursday, Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant created shockwaves across the NBA by requesting a trade.
With Kyrie Irving already reportedly wanting out, it seemed to spell impending doom for a Nets team that many expected to win an NBA championship when the two joined it in 2019.
The two teams rumored to be the favorites to land the two-time Finals MVP are the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat.
But do not expect the Los Angeles Lakers to get into the mix.
Via The Athletic:
“As for the prospect of the Lakers trying to get in on the Durant sweepstakes themselves, perhaps by making [Anthony] Davis available in the process, a source close to the situation put the chances at “zero.” Their focus, it seems, is on [Kyrie] Irving. And vice versa.”
Indeed, the Lakers haven’t given up on their dream of turning Russell Westbrook into Irving, and they have reportedly resumed talks with the Nets in order to make it happen.
Last week, it was reported that the Lakers were the only team to have any “real interest” in acquiring Irving via trade. If that holds up, perhaps they could land him without giving up too much capital, especially if the Nets feel any real urgency to rid themselves of the North Jersey native.
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For now, at least, the notion of Irving coming to L.A. for a package centered around Westbrook almost seems too good to be true after the disastrous season the Purple and Gold just completed.
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