Lakers News: LeBron James Posts Cryptic Tweet Amid Kyrie Irving Trade Saga

Let's sift through the tea leaves.

Los Angeles Lakers All-Star power forward LeBron James, as he is wont to do, offered up a murky, passive-aggressive tweet this afternoon:

👀👑

— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 3, 2023

Presumably, given the timing, this was written in response to the news that his former Cleveland Cavaliers running mate, point guard Kyrie Irving, has demanded to be dealt away from his current club, the Brooklyn Nets, after contract extension negotiations reportedly reached a standstill.

The Lakers number among the clubs believed to now be in the running for Irving's services, along with the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

James and Irving played together for three seasons in Cleveland, all of which ended in NBA Finals appearances against the Golden State Warriors. Irving's scoring and clutch shotmaking proved critical in the Cavs' ability to erase a seemingly insurmountable 3-1 series deficit to a 73-9 Warriors team in 2016, en route to the title. Irving, as he tends to do, demanded a trade in the 2017 offseason, and was shipped out to the Boston Celtics. Following two solid seasons in Boston, Irving left for the Nets as a free agent in 2019, to play alongside Kevin Durant.

With Durant mostly healthy this year, and a deep and versatile Brooklyn rotation surrounding the club's two stars, the Nets have gotten off to a 30-21 start, good for the fourth seed in the East, and have looked like a legitimate championship contender. Until now, at least.