NBA Rumors: New "Pessimism" About Lakers Trading For Kyrie Irving

"Is Kyrie Irving Still In The Picture?" was part of the headline that blared in the Los Angeles Times sports on Sunday, as Los Angeles Lakers beat writer Dan Woike revealed that there's pessimism about the team acquiring Kyrie in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.

There’s pessimism that the Lakers will trade for Kyrie Irving because of Kyrie’s contract demands, per @DanWoikeSports

“Irving is expected to seek a four-year maximum contract, with the Lakers preferring a two-year deal, aligning with the two years remaining on James' deal.” pic.twitter.com/COlEiVbEOr

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 5, 2023

And it all boils down to Irving's delusional demands on a new contract, says Woike.  

After a day of rampant speculation, there’s pessimism that the Lakers will swing a deal for Kyrie Irving, because of the star Brooklyn point guard’s contract demands in free agency this summer, sources with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly told The Times.  

Irving is expected to seek a four-year maximum contract, with the Lakers preferring a two-year deal, aligning with the two years remaining on James’ deal.

Irving's contract demands are what led to him asking for a trade out of Brooklyn, as the Nets were unwilling to go to four years, and put an extreme condition any extension. 

LeBron James is certainly onside with acquiring Irving, we already know about that. He was asked again Saturday night whether acquiring a player like Kyrie would bring the Lakers closer to being a championship contender: 

“Obviously that’s a — what’s the word you use? — ‘duh’ question when you talk about a player that like that,” answered LeBron.

And so the posturing continues on all sides. The Lakers, it seems will also have some serious competition for Kyrie from their friends down the hall at Crypto.com Arena. 

Photo: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports