Kyrie Irving To Lakers Deal Hits A New Wall

BYAlexander Cole7.6K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images
Kyrie Irving
The Lakers are being protective of their assets.

For weeks now, there have been reports that Kyrie Irving will be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers desperately want to get rid of Russell Westbrook and his contract, although new Lakers head coach Darvin Ham probably has something to say about that. Either way, everyone knows Kyrie is a better fit for the Lakers, and the Nets are included when we say "everyone." Having said that, there is no doubt that the Nets have all of the leverage here as the Lakers need the Nets more than the Nets need the Lakers.

At first, it seemed like the big hold-up on the trade was the inclusion of Joe Harris. Now, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, a deal has yet to be made because the Lakers are refusing to include a second first-round pick.

Kyrie Irving To Lakers Deal Hits A New Wall
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

“I think in any Russ trade, it’s gonna require draft compensation,” Buha said. “From what I’ve been told, the Lakers do not want to give up that second first-round pick. I think if they were willing to do two first-round picks, Kyrie would be a Laker right now.”

It makes sense that the Lakers would be reluctant to include the second pick when you consider how Kyrie would be a rental player. There is no guarantee Irving would sign a deal with the Lakers in the 2023 offseason, and trading away two picks would be a huge risk. 

Stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from the NBA world.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
...