3. Los Angeles Lakers
Could Kyrie Irving and LeBron James reunite once again with the Los Angeles Lakers? It’s certainly a possibility.
A few seasons after Irving and James spent time together with the Cleveland Cavaliers and won a NBA championship as one of the top duos in the NBA, the Lakers could be on Irving’s radar as a possible landing spot this offseason.
According to ESPN‘s Brian Windhorst, who appeared on an ESPN podcast recently to talk free agency, Irving could view the LeBron-led Lakers as a suitable team to join in free agency:
"“I would’ve said that this is impossible for many months, but as time passes here and as the possibility exists that Jason Kidd could be hired as the Lakers coach, I think the possibility of Kyrie and LeBron reuniting, that door, which was dead-bolted, has been un-dead-bolted and has now been cracked open,” Windhorst said. “It might even be opening more by the day. And I say that just because I think it’s on Kyrie’s radar, it’s on Kyrie’s board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers.”"
After what appeared to be an ugly and rough ending to the relationship between Irving and James during their time in Cleveland, the two have since reportedly spoken and smoothed things over now that they have moved on from the Cavs.
That alone, mixed with the potential of Irving and James building a strong championship contending team in a larger market like Los Angeles, could make this an intriguing option for the point guard — even if they can’t offer him a max deal based on the timing of when the Anthony Davis trade is officially completed.
For now, expectation is Anthony Davis trade will be completed on July 6, league sources tell @BobbyMarks42 and me. Assuming Davis declines to void $4M trade bonus, this leaves Lakers with $23.7M in space. There is chance that could be amended to July 30, but it’s still 6th now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2019
Over the past few seasons, the Lakers have worked to put themselves in a position to be able to add max-contract, All-Star caliber players to pair with James in Los Angeles. After agreeing to a trade for superstar Anthony Davis, this could be the start of a powerful Big 3 of James, Davis and Irving.
Whether Irving would strongly consider joining James and Davis in Los Angeles over joining one of the teams in New York is yet to be seen, but the thought of him paired with two of the best players in the NBA could be enough to convince him to head to the Lakers this offseason.