In an almost desperate attempt to return to elite status, the Los Angeles Lakers tried to trade for perennial All-Star guard Kyrie Irving this summer.
They talked to the Brooklyn Nets about trading Russell Westbrook and some draft capital for the New Jersey native. However, for whatever reason, those talks broke down.
Later this summer, speculation arose that L.A. was looking to clear significant cap space next summer, so it could try to sign Irving as a free agent.
However, a more recent report says the team may not be looking to do so.
Via Lakers Daily:
“Despite all that, a recent rumor has now indicated that the Lakers are actually not that interested in Irving and do not have him factored into their long-term plans.
“‘As for the prospect of adding Irving via free agency next summer, sources say he’s currently not a part of the Lakers’ long-term plans,’ Shams Charania, Sam Amick and Jovan Buha reported for The Athletic.”
Trading for Irving this summer would’ve been the silver bullet that would’ve allowed the Lakers to maximize whatever is remaining of LeBron James’ prime. However, signing him as a free agent next summer would be problematic. It would leave the team with no cap space and very limited assets to field a competitive squad around him, James and Anthony Davis.
Right now, it seems the team is content with seeing how things play out with its current roster in the opening weeks of the season before deciding what to do with Westbrook.
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