Colin Cowherd on why LA Lakers failed to get Kyrie Irving: "Durant probably said, ‘Why?! I’d rather get Dinwiddie and a good forward'"
The LA Lakers, who have not-so-secretly pined for Kyrie Irving since the offseason, failed to acquire the former Brooklyn Nets wantaway star. Brooklyn moved on from the mercurial point guard for a package centered around the Dallas Mavericks’ Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.
Here’s Colin Cowherd on why Lakers GM Rob Pelinka couldn’t convince Nets counterpart Sean Marks to do a trade:
(7:21)
“That Westbrook trade from the Wizards giving up Kyle Kuzma and KCP, that did damage in this. What did the Lakers have to give you? A bad contract with Russell Westbrook."
He added:
"Durant probably said, ‘Why?! I’d rather get Dinwiddie and a good forward.’ They gave up too much for Russell Westbrook. It didn’t help this [Lakers] team and it blew this trade. They just don’t have enough to give anybody.”
Reports have surfaced that the Brooklyn Nets turned down the LA Lakers’ proposal for Russell Westbrook and two future first-round picks. There were also conflicting rumors about Brooklyn’s request to include Austin Reaves and Max Christie in the deal.
Sean Marks reportedly wants players who can help the Nets win now. Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith are solid, rotational players to help them with that goal.
Both players still have years left on their respective contracts, which makes them valuable trading assets if the Nets want to explore that option. Brooklyn may not want to extend Russell Westbrook's contract, which would make him a rental. They didn’t want something like that in return for Kyrie Irving.
Kevin Durant left Westbrook because he was “tired of being the only guy who could make threes, make jump shots and consistently make them.” He might not want to go through that experience, particularly with Ben Simmons, another terrible shooter, in the lineup.
The LA Lakers’ 2027 and 2029 picks were enticing, but unlike Kyrie Irving, they couldn’t help Durant’s win-now mode for the next four years.
The Brooklyn Nets didn’t want to accommodate Kyrie Irving’s desire to play for the LA Lakers
A spicy layer of intrigue was also a subplot during trade talks between the Brooklyn Nets and the LA Lakers. Despite the intense discussions, Nets owner Joe Tsai supposedly never intended to allow Kyrie Irving to go to Hollywood.
Perhaps the billionaire didn’t want to make it a happy ending for the player responsible for costing the Nets too many opportunities to succeed. Perhaps Tsai was also underwhelmed by the players included in the Lakers’ trade package.
Nets Owner Joe Tsai Reportedly Didn't Care Where They Traded Kyrie Irving As Long As It Wasn't To The Lakers Since That's What He Wanted barstoolsports.com/blog/3455155/n… https://t.co/4sRwIG0Pej
Perhaps, as Colin Cowherd pointed out, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma would have landed them Kyrie Irving.
Irving’s route to a reunion with LeBron James isn’t entirely close, though. He could still make it happen if he refuses to sign the Dallas Mavericks’ reportedly two-year extension offer and sign with the Lakers.
LA’s offer of an extension is somewhat similar to what Dallas has on the table. But if Kyrie Irving really wants to play with LeBron James, he could take the same deal and reunite with his former teammate in Los Angeles.