1. Kyrie Irving
It is no secret that Kyrie and LeBron James want to play together again. There were rumblings when Irving was a free agent in the summer, but the Lakers would have been forced to abandon many of the talents that helped them reach the conference finals last season. Los Angeles, still feeling the sting of Russell Westbrook, opted for depth and role players over a third star.
They could abandon it and try the other route if their slow start turns into a serious issue. The Mavericks are 7-2 and look like a dangerous team, but Irving is no stranger to asking out even when his current franchise is successful. The eight-time All-Star wants another ring and likely feels teaming with LeBron gives him the best chance at getting it.
Irving is one of the best scorers and ball-handlers in the world. Adding him solves all of the Lakers’ offensive issues. They may struggle to defend, but upgrading from Gabe Vincent and D-Lo to Kyrie would significantly improve their title odds. They are just left asking if Irving is available.
The Los Angeles Lakers could look to quickly move on from Gabe Vincent if things do not improve. Who will they land in the trade? LeBron James wants to bring another championship to LA, and the front office will try to build the team around him. Expect Rob Pelinka and company to make moves, so stay tuned to see if it is enough to propel them on a deep postseason run.
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