3 disastrous mistakes Lakers must avoid making this summer

1. Lakers must not take the Kyrie Irving bait

Goodness, this would be such a bad move for the Lakers to make. The team caved in to pressure from LeBron James and traded for Russell Westbrook two years ago and it literally shut the team’s title window as a result.

While Irving is a better player than Westbrook was at the point that the Lakers traded for him this move would be just as disastrous. As talented as Irving is, Los Angeles should have learned by now that it is far better to have a deep rotation than it is to have a third star point guard that is past his prime.

And as much as Irving is beloved throughout the league, what has he even won? He was traded to the Boston Celtics because he was done living in LeBron’s shadow and that was a disaster. The only playoff run Boston went on was in the year that Irving was hurt.

Then he went to Brooklyn, formed the most dysfunctional super team in the league that brought in James Harden only to quickly dispel him out, and won just one playoff series as a result. Then he gets traded to the Dallas Mavericks, who were firmly in playoff position, and it tanks their entire season.

What about that should the Lakers want? Worse off, if LA does a sign-and-trade deal that includes D’Angelo Russell then the team will be hard-capped at the luxury apron, meaning that they would have to let some of the role players (like Reaves) walk.

Unfortunately, this feels like something that could happen if there is pressure from ownership and LeBron. LeBron could get his buddy in LA with him while ownership would get an excuse to stay under the luxury tax that is disguised as a “look, we traded for a superstar!” move.