The Lakers had their probability to signal Kyrie Irving in free company final yr however elected to not pursue the chance, in response to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Whereas the Lakers did try and commerce for Irving earlier than he turned a free agent final summer season, they didn’t pursue him in free company regardless of being able to beat Dallas’ supply.
“LeBron wished the Lakers to commerce for Kyrie Irving once we was on the commerce block, a few completely different occasions in ’22 and ’23,” Windhorst mentioned on a current episode of Get Up. “The Lakers made a suggestion on the commerce deadline final yr. Dallas’ supply was simply higher…”
Brian Windhorst says the Lakers might have created cap house to signal Kyrie Irving final summer season however determined to re-sign the gamers who helped them attain the Western Convention Finals final season
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“The Lakers really might’ve created the cap house to beat the Mavericks supply (in free company) final yr, however they elected to not. They elected to re-sign the gamers from the workforce that had simply obtained to the Western Convention Finals.
“So there’s a few close to misses. I don’t suspect that we’re going to see a chance for them to play (collectively) once more, however I’d by no means say by no means within the NBA.”
Windhorst’s feedback intently adopted James saying, “I’m so f*cking mad that I’m not his working mate anymore,” in reference to Irving on the Thoughts The Sport podcast.
Nonetheless, it’s price noting that if the Lakers had cleared the required cap house to land Irving, there’s nonetheless no solution to know for certain that he would’ve signed with them over the Mavericks.
However taking part in in LA alongside James would have been a really tempting choice on the very least, particularly contemplating Dallas had did not make the playoffs within the earlier season.
READ MORE: Kyrie Irving Responds to LeBron James’ Feedback About Him
