UPDATED 6/27, 11:30 a.m. ET: The Brooklyn Nets have granted Kyrie Irving permission to seek sign-and-trade offers from other teams, New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield reports.
Per Winfield, Kevin Durant has yet to speak to the team’s front office about his future.
See original story below.
With Kyrie Irving’s future with the Nets in question, a new report calls the Lakers the “most significant threat” to lure him away from Brooklyn this off-season.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers can’t afford to pay Kyrie a max contract, but he could ultimately reunite with LeBron James if he opts out of his contract with the Nets and decides to take a pay cut.
“Now, the Lakers are considered the most significant threat right now for Kyrie Irving, but that would essentially entail him taking $30 million less than he can opt into in Brooklyn,” Woj reported. “There’s a $6 million taxpayer exemption he can sign with the Lakers.”
Woj pointed out that Kyrie has been willing to leave money on the floor before, sacrificing a significant amount of money last year wen he refused to get vaccinated and missed over half the NBA regular season. He also reports that the Nets believe its possible he leaves the team because of the unusual way his career has played out.
If Irving does opt in, the Lakers could land him in a trade, with potential players like Anthony Davis or Russell Westbrook going to Brooklyn. No matter how this plays out, it’s bound to be one of the most intriguing story lines this off-season.
