3 reasons why the Lakers will undoubtedly pull off a Kyrie Irving trade
By Jason Reed
3. Despite reports, the Los Angeles Lakers will be desperate enough to trade assets for Kyrie Irving
It is widely accepted that if the Los Angeles Lakers were willing to trade two first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets that the team would already have Kyrie on the payroll. However, it seems like the biggest hang-up right now is that the Lakers do not want to include that second pick.
You absolutely cannot blame the team for only wanting to package one pick in this trade and quite frankly, that is exactly what the Lakers should be trying to accomplish. That is why this has dragged on as the two teams get in a game of chicken over the compensation.
However, despite the reports, this is a Lakers team that has shown it will be desperate when backed up against the wall. After all, this is the same team that traded legitimate NBA assets to the Washington Wizards for Russell Westbrook a year ago.
Pelinka and the front office were willing to trade three legitimate NBA rotation players and a first-round pick to Washington for Westbrook. Do you really think they would completely shut it down if they had to attach an extra pick to dump Westbrook for Irving?
It does not even have to be the second pick. The Lakers could also take on more salary in return to entice the Nets. Both teams are taxpaying teams and that extra salary has huge luxury tax implications. The Lakers have been kind of cheap for a multi-billion-dollar sports team, but when backed up against the wall, they will pay the money.
They literally just did that last offseason in taking on a massive Westbrook contract. There is actual precedent there for the Lakers to pay up if needed.
The mix of bad relationships, no other suitors and true desperation from the Lakers will ultimately bring Kyrie Irving to the City of Angels.