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With Kyrie Irving’s destiny within the steadiness, might he be destined to rejoin LeBron James in Los Angeles to play for the Lakers?
Per Marc Stein, Irving and James “had some recent contact … to presumably discuss a potential reunion in Hollywood.”
Speculation boiled over on Wednesday when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski stated on NBA Today, “The Lakers are considered the most significant threat right now for Kyrie.”
Both introduced the notion with an acceptable quantity of skepticism, citing the Lakers’ clear monetary hurdles in buying Irving. But what if there was a technique to carry the seven-time All-Star to Los Angeles with out saddling the Brooklyn Nets with Russell Westbrook’s $47.1 million for subsequent season, assuming he opts in?
What wouldn’t it take to rope within the Oklahoma City Thunder, who might open sufficient cap house to soak up Westbrook fully? Can the Lakers incentivize each the Nets and Thunder to facilitate Westbrooks’s departure from and Irving’s arrival to L.A.?
Nets at a Crossroad
Brooklyn was self-aware sufficient to know that James Harden was destined to hitch the Philadelphia 76ers. Harden changed into Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, a few first-round picks and a shot (that fell quick) within the playoffs.
Similarly, the Nets are at a crossroads with Irving. If Plan A is to discover a viable extension, then Plan B can be Irving opting in at $36.9 million. If he sticks on the roster with a divorce looming, Irving could possibly be a big headache.
An reply could possibly be one of many Lakers’ firsts (2027 or 2029) and, if the Nets do not take any gamers again, a commerce exception value $35.3 million. Brooklyn’s payroll would drop from a projected $160 million to $123 million (with the tax threshold at $149 million).
The crew has different inquiries to resolve (the above assumes Patty Mills opts in), like free brokers Bruce Brown, Andre Drummond and Nic Claxton. Irving is among the NBA’s true wildcards. If Plan A is not viable, buying and selling him now could also be safer than the chaos of a disgruntled Irving in Kevin Durant’s ear.
Can the Nets add one thing to the puzzle to get Luguentz Dort within the deal from Thunder? Would Brooklyn tackle JaMychal Green ($8.2 million) and/or Mike Muscala for frontcourt depth? Who else may be had from Oklahoma City? Do any Lakers stand out to the Nets like Austin Reaves, Kendrick Nunn, Stanley Johnson or Talen Horton-Tucker?
Perhaps the flexibleness of a commerce exception with no matter draft compensation Brooklyn can pry from Los Angeles may make an Irving exit palatable. The onus is on the Lakers to verify the Thunder and Nets can reside with a deal.
Thunder Cap Space: On the Clock
As of July 1, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s extension will kick in at $30.5 million. The Thunder are on the clock to make use of its present cap house (as much as $31.8 million) earlier than it evaporates subsequent month. The crew has already agreed to make use of some on JaMychal Green from the Denver Nuggets (per Wojnarowski), however he could possibly be rerouted.
The Lakers must make it worthwhile, maybe providing a 2027 or 2029 first-round decide with Westbrook. The Thunder would wish to ship out Derrick Favors, Green and one other $2.6 million in wage to make room for the Lakers guard. That could possibly be so simple as opting Muscala in ($3.5 million)—or one other mixture of gamers, together with Ty Jerome, Kenrich Williams, Theo Maledon and even Dort.
Per B/R’s Jake Fischer, “There has been increasing talk about [the Portland Trail Blazers] potentially targeting the seventh selection to Oklahoma City for No. 12 and a package that could include [Dort].”
The Thunder have been amassing property for the previous few years, increase probably the most huge assortment of picks the NBA has ever seen. This could also be their final likelihood to tackle a big wage dump for draft compensation.
L.A.’s Role
If James needs Westbrook out for Irving, the Lakers may want to noticeably think about it. The franchise could also be caught, unclear if James will stick round after his contract expires in 2023. However, what if James will recommit via 2025 with the crew going all-in for Irving?
What James really needs stays a thriller, however now’s the time to make these important choices. He cannot formally lengthen till August 4, however a verbal could possibly be all of the motivation the Lakers want. Upon opting in for a commerce, Irving can lengthen with Los Angeles at a beginning wage for the 2023-24 season at $44.3 million (assuming he waives his commerce bonus).
In buying and selling Westbrook, L.A. can soak up as much as $55.4 million in participant salaries. That’s virtually sufficient to tackle Irving, Favors, Green and Muscala. The Lakers would wish the Nets (or a fourth crew) to take one of many three from the Thunder—or a minimum of one or two of the Lakers talked about above who’re at the moment beneath contract.
If Irving opts out, the Lakers can solely supply about $6.4 million in beginning wage. Trading Westbrook to the Thunder in a two-team commerce with out the Nets might push that accessible determine to $10.3 million, but it surely’s a stretch to think about Irving taking that enormous of a pay reduce to return to Los Angeles.
While he might opt-in with the Nets for a commerce to L.A. in July when salaries shift to 2022-23, the Thunder fall off the board as its cap room dries up. Finding a house for Westbrook might show tougher, particularly if the Nets aren’t eager on taking over vital payroll in return.
The bulk of participant motion will lock in over the subsequent couple of weeks. The Nets have a choice to make with Irving. If an extension cannot be reached, and Irving is adamant on a reunion with James, the Lakers might not yield Brooklyn’s dream return. However, that might show to be the most effective reply from an inventory of inauspicious decisions.
Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and comply with him on Twitter, @EricPincus.
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