Lakers News: Why A Sign-And-Trade For Kyrie Irving Is Looking Increasingly Less Likely
All-Star Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving will be reaching unrestricted free agency this summer, and it's no secret that there has been mutual interest between Irving and your Los Angeles Lakers in the past. In recent days, he's been linked to the Lakers again.
When team president Rob Pelinka offloaded past-their-prime point guards Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley and brought in old pal D'Angelo Russell to serve their new starter, it was clear that, in the short-term, the Lakers had moved on from its Irving fixation.
Irving, however, seems happy to stir the pot, having sat courtside twice during the Lakers' 2023 playoff run while making a point to congenially dap up LA All-Star small forward LeBron James, his former Cleveland Cavaliers running mate.
He would, on paper, make sense as a fit alongside LA stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a floor-spacing co-lead ball handler alongside James. Irving has forced his way out of town across all three of his prior stops, has dealt with injury issues for years now, doesn't play defense, and on top of everything else is a total lightning rod for controversy and wild card when it comes to general buy-in.
The eight-time All-Star is worth much less than he'll probably earn as a free agent this summer, and could easily sink LA into the situation it was just in with Westbrook soaking up so much cap space, where he takes away more than he adds.
Though a potential sign-and-trade deal might be the easiest way for Irving to land in Los Angeles, the Mavs apparently have no interest in helping facilitate a deal that ship their controversial guard out of town, according to Tim Cato of The Athletic.
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