Grade the trade: Lakers add controversial star in proposed deal

Los Angeles Lakers grade for this Kyrie Irving trade: D+

On paper, this makes the Lakers a very exciting team. Los Angeles could run out a starting five of Kyrie, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes, Max Christie and whatever other veterans the team brings in could spearhead the bench.

That is a roster that is definitely talented enough to win a title and the price is solid. The team would be upgrading from Russell with the only cost being Hachimura, who was very important last season but could theoretically be replaced by several guys.

It all sounds great. The big holdup is Irving himself. Kyrie has not been a part of a winning system since he was with LeBron and there have been distractions galore. There is a short list of players that the Lakers should be refusing to go into business with and Kyrie is on that list.

He is more talented than Russell Westbrook and fits this team better. But the end result could be a very similar situation as the Westbrook situation that the team was trying to desperately to get out of.

Dallas Mavericks grade for this Kyrie Irving trade: B+

Dallas still doesn’t get back what it initially traded for Irving but finding another team to take him on and send legitimate assets would be a huge win for the team. D’Lo has his problems but would at least provide an off-ball shooter for Dallas. Hachimura is the exact type of forward that the Mavericks should be looking to pair with Doncic.

Will the Mavericks win a title with this roster? No. Are they arguably better than they would be with Kyrie? There is a case to be made. Long-term they would be better, though, and that is the big key to this deal from the Mavs’ point of view.