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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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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

What could have been with the Los Angeles Lakers starting five:

  • PG: Kyrie Irving
  • SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
  • SF: Gordon Hayward
  • PF: LeBron James
  • C: Anthony Davis

This would be the best five that the Los Angeles Lakers can throw out there. If the team wanted to take some workload off of Gordon Hayward to keep him healthy they can make him one of the best sixth men in the league by shifting LeBron and AD down and starting Mason Plumlee at the five instead.

Anthony Davis has not fully embraced the role of starting center, so that might have been the more realistic route for the Lakers. Having Hayward off the bench would be an absolute luxury for the Lakers as well.

Overall, the Lakers would have saved money next season by making these moves. The extra money brought in by trading for KCP is offset (and then some) by trading Westbrook in the Hayward deal. The team still can only bring in minimum players to fill out the roster, but with this core, that would be more than okay.

On top of this starting five, the Lakers could have had a bench of Plumlee, Austin Reaves, Max Christie, Stanley Johnson and Wenyen Gabriel. LA can easily find five valuable minimum players, whether they look for a traditional big, a veteran who can shoot, a defensive gem, or even a former all-star.

If this team would have been put together and stayed healthy then it would have walked through the NBA Playoffs into the NBA Finals.

Westbrook and the 10 worst trades in franchise history. dark. Next

But yet again, this is nothing but a massive what-if as Irving decided to string the Lakers along only to break their hearts in the end.

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