Lakers: Nets Insider Discusses Mutual Interest Between Kyrie Irving And LA

Will Irving be a Laker this year?

News leaked Friday that Brooklyn Nets All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving had requested a trade that would ship him out of Barclays Center for good. Your Los Angeles Lakers emerged as an instant contender for his services.

Brooklyn insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson of Bally Sports spoke with Nets Kingdom about the prospect of Irving joining the Lakers.

Scoop B — “Ultimately They Have to Get Something done or Kyrie Irving is Out” @ScoopB also talks about Kyrie and Lakers situation #NetsWorld

Full audio on Nets Kingdom YouTube pic.twitter.com/vlW2LIBlz8

— NetsKingdom 👑🗽 (@NetsKingdomAJ) February 4, 2023

"Ultimately, they gotta get something done, or Kyrie's out [in free agency this summer]."

Robinson was next asked if he thinks LA team vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka would be willing to pay Irving a maximum four-year, $198 million salary in free agency this summer.

"I know that the Lakers were very gung-ho on getting him last summer," Robinson offered. "I know that on the Kyrie side of things, I've been told that that conversation is not necessarily something that they want to revisit. And it needs to be a situation where it's more low-key. In my heart of hearts, I feel like a revisit to Los Angeles is basically doing New York all over again. Also I do know that Kyrie can walk away this summer, and the Nets will get nothing. And who's to say that just because Kyrie in the past may have wanted to go to the Lakers, that that's where the Nets are going to ship him?" 

"I know that the Lakers are in the market for a point guard this summer," Robinson continued. "I do know that Kyrie does spend significant time in Los Angeles in the offseason with his wife being from the Los Angeles area, but he's also from West Orange, New Jersey, and New York is a hop, skip and a jump from his hometown, but the Nets seemingly are playing hardball."