Even with a successful Brooklyn Nets season in full swing, Kyrie Irving decided he no longer wanted to team with Kevin Durant and requested a trade before the trade deadline. When the news was first reported, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged as the obvious favorites to acquire Irving.
A deal was quickly found for Irving and it did not come with the Lakers. Instead, Brooklyn agreed to ship Irving to the Dallas Mavericks for a package of Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick and two second-round picks.
Rob Pelinka instantly became the target of Lakers fans’ fury for not getting a deal done for a reasonable price. Los Angeles is within striking distance of the top of the Western Conference and not trading for Irving was the last straw for many fans.
However, it appears that there were some ulterior motives in the trade talks that kept Irving from reuniting with LeBron James. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the “Lakers tax” was a very real thing in this situation.
Latest report from @TheSteinLine confirms that one of Joe Tsai’s presumed objectives in a Kyrie trade was to not send him to his preferred landing spot: the Lakers
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) February 6, 2023
Lakers kept from making a Kyrie Irving trade due to pure pettiness.
The “Lakers tax” has been a very real thing for a long time (outside of the Pau Gasol trade, which is still head-scratching to this day). This is yet another example of another NBA team hiking up the price simply because they don’t want to help Los Angeles.
There was an extra bit of pettiness in this particular instance towards Irving, who rightfully is now on Joe Tsai’s bad side for the rollercoaster he has put the franchise through this season.
Making matters worse is the fact that Los Angeles reportedly was not stingy in the team’s pursuit of Irving as well. This was not a case of Pelinka trying to nickel and dime his way into getting Irving. Instead, the team was seemingly willing to offer both of the coveted future first-round picks in a trade.
Sources: Brooklyn Nets received Los Angeles Lakers’ proposal that did include team’s two first-round picks (2027, 2029) and Phoenix Suns’ offer of Chris Paul, Jae Crowder and unspecified picks: @NBATV pic.twitter.com/cJuABbaYGy
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 6, 2023
Brooklyn intentionally took a worse package from Dallas simply to be petty toward Kyrie Irving and the Lakers. An actual NBA team intentionally did something that is worse for the future just so they could get the last laugh over their departing star.
Brooklyn likely won’t be laughing when the team is bounced in the first round of the playoffs and doesn’t have two of the most coveted first-round picks in the league to look forward to.
Grading every trade Rob Pelinka has made for the Los Angeles Lakers
Rob Pelinka has orchestrated numerous trades in his time running the Lakers. It is time to go through his trade progress report so far in Los Angeles.
But at least they have Spencer Dinwiddie!