A new door has potentially opened for the Los Angeles Lakers in the form of Kyrie Irving. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Irving and the Brooklyn Nets are at an impasse that could lead to Irving finding a new home this offseason. The Lakers were named as an initial team that Irving could join.
Irving is a big-name player but there are potential reservations that some fans may have. He has not been the most consistent, especially as a leader, in both Boston and Brooklyn. Plus, he would likely sign a new extension, locking him down for four more years after the 2022-23 season until he is 35.
While those concerns are legitimate, the fact of the matter still is that the Lakers really should not think twice if a Kyrie Irving trade presents itself.
Why trading for Kyrie Irving is a no-brainer for the Los Angeles Lakers
1. He is significantly better than Russell Westbrook and this might be the Lakers’ only hope
The Los Angeles Lakers could potentially dump Russell Westbrook to the Charlotte Hornets, who have an interest in trading for him. However, the Lakers would get Gordon Hayward and maybe Terry Rozier in that trade and would have to give up a first. That is not a great trade, all things considered.
Trading for Irving is a great trade because of how talented he is. When Irving is at his best he is still one of the best guards in the entire league and that would push the Lakers to a new stratosphere. At their best, the Lakers would have two guys who are top-10 players in the league and another who it top-15, top-20 at worst.
Superstars win championships and the Lakers would actually have a good chance of winning a title with Irving in LA. Meanwhile, the team has virtually no chance of winning anything with Westbrook on the team, which is just waiting a precious year of the title window that exists with LeBron James.
The Lakers are desperate and this Irving situation, despite all his flaws, is a gift from the basketball gods for next season.