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The dream starting 5 the Lakers lost after getting ditched by Kyrie Irving

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 10: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates during the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2022 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 10: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates during the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2022 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Things were looking up for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team entered the offseason in a bad spot with Russell Westbrook and it looked like a saving grace had appeared in Kyrie Irving. All signs were pointing to Irving somehow making his way to Los Angeles to pair up with LeBron James.

Then the bombshell was dropped that Irving would opt into his contract to fulfill his four-year commitment to Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets. It felt like Irving was on the verge of being a Laker before Durant talked him back down to earth.

This is a shame as it would have not just helped the Lakers, but it could have given Kyrie a dream starting five to play alongside and potentially dominate with. This starting five would have been good enough to walk its way through the NBA Finals, but now, it is just a giant what-if.

Here is what could have happened for the Lakers to get a dream starting 5 with Kyrie Irving

1. Land Kyrie Irving with the Taxpayer MLE

The Lakers could have traded for Kyrie with a sign-and-trade deal and that would have been just fine. It would not have created this dream starting five but the team still would have gotten off Russell Westbrook’s contract and made a massive improvement.

However, there was speculation that Kyrie Irving could prove a point, opt out of his deal and sign a one-year deal worth the Taxpayer MLE with the Lakers. Sure, it was a $30 million difference but Kyrie has sacrificed plenty of money before.

Kyrie instead “dared to be different” by not taking the massive pay cut. How that is different I have no idea. If Kyrie would have signed with the MLE it would have opened the door for the Lakers to dump Westbrook and create a true domino effect.

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