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Kyrie Irving trade now a no-brainer for Lakers after Kevin Durant bombshell

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 08: Kevin Durant #7 reacts with Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets after the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center on April 08, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 118-107. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 08: Kevin Durant #7 reacts with Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets after the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center on April 08, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 118-107. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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All signs were pointing to the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Kyrie Irving this week… until they weren’t. Irving decided on Tuesday that he wanted to opt into his contract with the Nets, fulfilling his commitment to Brooklyn and Kevin Durant.

The only problem with that is that Durant does not want to fulfill his commitment back to Kyrie and the team. Shams Charania and several other NBA insiders dropped a bombshell on Thursday before free agency began: Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.

Lakers fans might be dreaming of a world in which the team trades for Kevin Durant this offseason but that is not going to happen. Los Angeles does not have the draft capital to trade for KD and they would have to trade Anthony Davis in the process. Plus, Brooklyn may not want AD for KD and may instead want picks in return.

However, it does open the door for the Lakers to trade for Kyrie Irving, fulfilling the prophecy that seemingly went away just two days ago. Better yet, Kevin Durant requesting a trade out of Brooklyn just made it much easier for the Lakers to trade for Kyrie Irving.

The Los Angeles Lakers can now trade Russell Westbrook directly for Kyrie Irving.

Before the Durant bombshell, it was assumed that the Lakers would either have to sign Kyrie with the Taxpayer MLE or would have to incorporate a third team in some sort of sign-and-trade. Trading Russell Westbrook to Brooklyn made no sense while Durant was still in town for obvious reasons.

However, if the Nets are planning on getting a massive haul for Durant it suddenly opens the door for the Nets to also acquire Westbrook. Granted, Westbrook himself is not really an asset to Brooklyn but no teams seemed to be interested in trading for Kyrie before he opted in. Kyrie does not have much of a market.

Now, there is a world in which the Lakers and Nets simply flip Westbrook for Irving. The Lakers would have to give the Nets value in this trade and would likely have to include an unprotected future first as well as a future pick swap.

While that is an expensive cost, the Lakers would get to move off of Westbrook, get an exceptionally better fit in Irving and would not have to commit to a multi-year contract (like Gordon Hayward) since Irving is on an expiring deal.

Plus, the Lakers would also save some money against the luxury tax. They would still be restricted to signing minimum players but it would help the checkbook as well.

This is a no-brainer for Los Angeles. Rob Pelinka should be on the phone and getting in contact with Sean Marks to get Kyrie Irving to Los Angeles. It is the only thing that could save the Lakers’ title hopes next season.

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