Kyrie Irving Free Agency: Mavs Have ‘No Interest’ in Lakers D’Angelo Russell Sign-&-Trade
Ever since the Los Angeles Lakers got swept in the Western Conference Finals, one of the hottest topics in the NBA has been whether or not L.A. will pursue Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving in free agency. Despite Irving’s relationship with LeBron James, the Lakers might end up going in a different direction, though, whether they like it or not.
In his Saturday-night newsletter, NBA reporter Marc Stein reinforced that the Mavs still plan to re-sign Irving, and that even if a sign-and-trade with the Lakers was on the table, they wouldn’t be interested in D’Angelo Russell.
“While we await a clear indication about the Lakers’ intentions [regarding free agency], with no verifiable signal to date that pursuing Irving is among their offseason priorities, league sources say that the Mavericks would have no interest in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers that features D'Angelo Russell as the primary Dallas-bound player. All indications are that the Mavericks remain intent on re-signing Irving,” Stein wrote.
Russell was abysmal in the conference finals, and the Mavs would likely be better off losing Irving for nothing rather than having to sign the Lakers guard to a bloated contract. If Anthony Davis is on the table, though, perhaps that changes things, as the Mavs have been rumored to have interest in the versatile big man.
“Retaining restricted free agents Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, continues to be regarded as the Lakers' preferred offseason course,” Stein wrote. “Less clear is the extent of their appetite to re-sign Russell, who averaged 6.3 points per game and shot 32.3% from the field (including 13.3% from 3-point range) during Denver's four-game sweep.”
Given what the Mavs had to give up to acquire Irving in February’s blockbuster trade, there is a heightened urgency to make sure he sticks around. The Dallas front office needs this to work out, especially when considering how last summer went with Jalen Brunson jumping ship to join the New York Knicks.
Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com as rumors and speculation heat up in the coming weeks. The NBA Draft will begin on June 22, and free agency will open on June 30.
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