Lakers: LeBron James Gets Honest About LA Missing Out On Kyrie Irving Trade

Ouch.

First, there was yet another in a long line of cryptic tweets.

Now, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James star is getting incredibly candid about his feelings regarding now-Dallas Mavericks All-Star starting point guard Kyrie Irving, for whom LA had been trying its darnedest to deal over the weekend.

Per Marc Stein, LeBron James informed ESPN's Mike Wilbon during a broadcast interview today that he was feeling some kind of way about Irving being shipped out elsewhere by the Brooklyn Nets.

"I can't sit her and say I'm not disappointing [at] not being able to land such a talented [player] that can help you win championships," James conceded. "But my focus has shifted now."

Similarly, the Lakers need to shift their focus too, moving on to other fish in the sea ahead of what is suddenly a pretty active NBA trade deadline week.

Dallas, one of LA's direct opponents in a crowded Western Conference (only five games separate the West's third seed, the Sacramento Kings, from its 13th seed, the Lakers), just got a whole lot better, and appears poised to make more moves to balance its roster in the wake of dealing its best wing defender, Dorian Finney-Smith, in the Irving trade. 

Will LA respond? 

The Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls should be sellers, and have plenty of intriguing assets. It's time for the Lakers to pounce. The 38-year-old James has been incredible this season, but he can't possible keep up his All-Star production that much longer, and Anthony Davis gets hurt every few weeks or so. This team needs high-level help, and fast, if it hopes to compete this year.