Lakers News: Why Expert Believes LA Should Avoid Kyrie Irving In Offseason
In this story:
Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA small forward LeBron James has already reunited with one 2011 Cleveland Cavaliers lottery pick who played a big part in helping him secure a title for the Cavs in 2016. Now, Mark Medina of The Sporting Tribune posits that the club should avoid making a move for the other.
Big man Tristan Thompson, a beloved former Cavs-era teammate of James', inked a deal to join LA for its playoff run on the last day of the regular season, and became a valued cheerleader for much of the club's three-round run. He even chipped in impactful (albeit limited) minutes during the Lakers' close Game 4 loss to the NBA Finals-bound Denver Nuggets.
After making a flurry of big deadline deals, LA finished the 2022-23 regular season on an 18-9 tear, the third-best run in the league across that time span.
Mercurial Dallas Mavericks All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, who can't help but court controversy in seemingly every city he suits up for, is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, himself a two-time All-Star, could also be considered a target for LA, though he'd have to be acquired via trade.
Medina believes the club would be better-suited by prioritizing its own top free agents this summer -- restricted free agents Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura -- and then bringing back unrestricted free agent point guard D'Angelo Russell on a short-term deal, which Medina posits the Lakers could then trade.
To add either Young or Irving, Los Angeles would need to sacrifice a lot of the depth that helped its midseason turnaround this year, and hope that a "Big Three" model with either defense-free star point guard worked better than it did the last time LA tried it, with a past-his-prime Russell Westbrook earning a whopping $47.1 million. Medina thinks putting depth ahead of a flashy third name is the way to improve on the club's 2022-23 season. I'm inclined to concur, at least if the names being considered are Kyrie Irving and Trae Young.
Toronto Raptors All-Star Fred VanVleet, who would probably be attainable for a price similar to what D'Angelo Russell is seeking (i.e. not a maximum contract), might be a decent fit as a playmaker upgrade. Were LA to move in that direction, the club would probably have to move on from Hachimura, but should be able to at least retain Reaves.
Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!
