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Kyrie Irving drags along LeBron James and the Lakers only to pass on LA

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets look on in the final seconds of their 109-103 loss against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 23, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets look on in the final seconds of their 109-103 loss against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 23, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images). /
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There was real optimism that the Los Angeles Lakers were going to be able to turn the Russell Westbrook situation into a positive one by trading for all-star point guard Kyrie Irving. Kyrie seemed all but gone from the Nets and the Lakers were the one team that was actively pursuing him.

However, despite all of the drama that otherwise would have ended a relationship between Irving and the Nets, Kyrie has decided to stay with Brooklyn after all.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Irving decided to opt into his player option to fulfill his four-year commitment to Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets. This totally sounds like Durant got on the phone with Irving and convinced him to stay one more year and at least play out his contract with the team.

The really important thing to note from Shams’ report is that Irving is reportedly bypassing multiple opt-in and trade scenarios. With the Lakers being the only team that reportedly showed interest, this could mean that LA had a three-team trade on the table that the Nets were potentially willing to take.

Sure, it is likely that was a team or two not on Irving’s list that was offering something for the star point guard but with all of the noise around the Lakers, it is hard to believe that there was at least something on the table from LA.

Kyrie Irving dragged along LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers only to ditch them.

All of this noise about Kyrie potentially joining the Los Angeles Lakers was more than just noise. There was legitimacy to the idea that he would join the Lakers to the point that he and LeBron were reportedly in contact.

With today’s NBA being about player empowerment more than anything else, Irving absolutely could have forced his way to Los Angeles if he really wanted to and quite frankly, it really was not that hard to do given the circumstances.

Instead, KD likely got in his ear, reminded him of the promise that he made him and convinced him to stay. Is it because Irving remembered what it was like to play with LeBron James? That has to be the only reason why because the Lakers, with LeBron and Anthony Davis, is a far better situation than what the Nets currently have.

At the end of the day it did not happen and now the Lakers again have to pivot on figuring out how to make Russell Westbrook work or how to trade him without giving up a first-round pick. This Kyrie drama seemed like the perfect situation to make it happen. Back to the drawing board.

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