Rumblings of Irving’s interest in the Lakers began with The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting on Monday that Irving was at an impasse in extension talks with the Brooklyn Nets. Even if this proves to all be a smokescreen to shake loose a long-term commitment from Brooklyn, the Lakers’ point of view in this remains the most interesting. The question of whether they even want Irving is a heck of a statement in and of itself. Taking on Irving and all that comes with him is hardly a no-brainer for most teams around the NBA. Plenty of teams would politely decline. Not the Lakers. It couldn’t be.