Lakers simply cannot meet Nets’ new demands for a Kyrie Irving trade

The Los Angeles Lakers have long been viewed as the only suitable landing spot for disgruntled Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving. Due to his injury history and quirky personality, Irving has alienated all but one team who is desperate to get back into that elite contender tier.

Even though Irving has become somewhat radioactive over the course of his NBA career, he’s still one of the very best players available in the league today. The Lakers would become a legitimate contender if he ends up getting minutes over Russell Westbrook at point guard.

The Nets are reportedly trying to gouge the Lakers into giving up multiple first-round picks in order to acquire Irving. While LA seems like they could consider crossing that bridge at some point in negotiations, Brooklyn’s latest demand might be too difficult for the

According to Marc Stein, the Nets are not going to trade Irving to the Lakers unless they can receive some win-now players in return. Considering how top-heavy and inflexible the Lakers’ roster is right now, a deal for Irving is looking more difficult to pull off than ever before.

The Los Angeles Lakers likely won’t get Kyrie Irving.

Assuming that the Nets are not interested in Westbrook given what a horrendous fit he would be next to Ben Simmons, the assets the Lakers have to part with are really insubstantial. No combination of players would come close to replicating Irving’s value.

The Lakers have been trying to make Talen Horton-Tucker a valuable trade piece for the last few seasons, yet they seem no closer to actually accomplishing that goal. THT might be a nice throw-in to sweeten the pot, but he’s not someone who can headline a trade piece of this magnitude.

The Lakers might have some renewed vigor in Irving trade tasks after LeBron James committed to LA for two more seasons. However, they might not have the assets needed to match that ambition. The Nets won’t sell Kyrie for pennies on the dollar, nor is he just a salary dumb for picks that are a half-decade in the future.

LA will have to realize that Irving is a long shot in trade talks right now, as no amount of Horton-Tucker hype or roster reshuffling can mask the fact that the depth chart is as bare bones as it gets outside of their big names. Don’t expect Irving in forum blue as long as the roster looks like this.

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