Mavs Trade Competition: Clippers Enter Kyrie Irving Sweepstakes

The Dallas Mavericks are far from the only team linked to Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving in trade overtures. The LA Clippers are now the latest suitor.

Since Kyrie Irving requested to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets, the Dallas Mavericks have been among the various teams linked as a possible suitor. The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns were initially the others. 

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the LA Clippers have entered the mix as a team looking to trade for Irving. A team featuring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is entrenched in a win-now window as much as any team in the NBA.

"The LA Clippers have joined the pursuit of Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, sources told ESPN on Saturday," Wojnarowski wrote. 

Irving sat out of the Nets' matchup against the Washington Wizards on Saturday due to what was listed as right calf soreness. He is widely expected to be traded from Brooklyn before the Feb. 9 deadline passes. He is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game this season.

The Nets were not presented with a list of preferred destinations. Irving, who is earning $36.9 million this season, is considered as seeking a four-year deal worth around $198.5 million from whichever team trades for him. 

As Wojnarowski reported, the Lakers are motivated to get a deal done. It remains to be seen how aggressively teams like the Mavs and Suns will be in pursuing a potential trade for the superstar guard.

The Clippers have been shopping John Wall and have been linked to many point guards, initially including Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Mike Conley. They have also been mentioned as a possible suitor for D'Angelo Russell. It's apparent that they will be motivated to make an upgrade at the position. 

Earlier on Saturday, Marc Stein linked the Clippers as a team "monitoring" Mavs center Christian Wood. It would appear that focus is not at the top of their list of priorities at the moment. The team has also been mentioned as a potential suitor for Naz Reid from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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