The Brooklyn Nets finally traded controversial All-Star starter Kyrie Irving on Sunday. The Nets dealt Irving away to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for two players – Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith – and multiple draft picks. Brooklyn’s trade of Irving means one big thing as well:
Kyrie Irving is not going to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Earlier this week after Irving’s trade request became public, the Lakers emerged as a potential suitor. One rumored deal would have seen Kyrie sent to LA in exchange for former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook. But that trade obviously did not come to fruition. LeBron James also appeared to make his stance on a reunion with Irving, who he won an NBA championship with in 2016, very clear. But despite what the King wanted, the King will not get it.
The small fortune Dallas used to acquire Irving — two players and draft picks no sooner than 2027 — had to also pour some salt in the wound as well. It makes sense that it didn’t require much, given the baggage Kyrie brings to Dallas along with him. But for some, maybe that was the point of why Laker fans sought after him so much.
But now with the trade deadline days away, LA won’t come away with the perceived biggest prize. Where will they turn to try and improve their team? The Lakers are 25-29 and two games behind 10th-place New Orleans for the final playoff spot.
They may need a lot, but they won’t get Irving, and the NBA world reacted to that news.
https://twitter.com/BullsTimes/status/1622329950391902212
https://twitter.com/colortheghost/status/1622328032630390784
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022