LA Lakers' trade rumors: Kyrie Irving predicted to head to LA Lakers in the summer by NBA executive
After a rough start to the year, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets have now rattled off 12-straight wins. After losing just one game during the month of December, the team has now won 16 of their last 17 games. It's been a spectacular run for a team that was at the forefront of trade talks early on in the season.
As the team fought off Kyrie Irving's antisemitism controversy, they also dealt with plenty of press regarding their firing of Steve Nash. Following Jacque Vaughn being appointed head coach of the Nets, the team began to turn things around.
With Irving back on the floor and Ben Simmons once again playing like an All-Star-caliber player, the season has completely turned around. Despite that, in the midst of their thrilling win streak, it seems there's a possibility that Irving could head to LA to join up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
According to Adam Zagoria from NJ.com, an anonymous NBA executive recently stated that, despite Irving's controversies just months ago, his stock will still be high. Irving's play is seemingly overshadowing his off-court controversies, and his stock doesn't seem to have taken a hit.
“Every team knows he is going to bring baggage,” one NBA executive said. “My guess is he heads to the Lakers this summer.”
Above you can see highlights from the team's recent win over the San Antonio Spurs, where Irving had a viral put-back dunk.
Kyrie Irving's potential move to the LA Lakers to reunite with LeBron James
Going into this season, there were reports that Kyrie Irving and LeBron James had been in contact. Many speculated that Russell Westbrook was likely on his way out, and the theory was that the Lakers would trade for Irving. Despite that, and a slew of other trade talks surrounding Westbrook, the team seemed unable to find a trade.
With Westbrook's massive $47 million contract off the books for LA next season, it would open the door for Kyrie Irving and LeBron James to reunite. With Irving earning $36.5 million this season, the Lakers could look to sign him to a long-term deal in hopes of recreating the duo's success in Cleveland.
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Add in a healthy Anthony Davis and key role players, and you could very well have a solid playoff team on your hands with the addition of Kyrie Irving's scoring. Going into the season, Marc Stein reported:
"There are credible rumblings in circulation that Irving, for starters, has indeed had some recent contact with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, his former Cleveland teammate, to presumably discuss a potential reunion in Hollywood."
Currently, the Lakers are struggling in Anthony Davis' absence. The franchise went just 7-9 in the month of December before kicking off the new year with a win over the Charlotte Hornets.
With the team in 12th place in the Western Conference, they'll need to turn things around sooner rather than later if they have any shot at the Playoffs.
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