Lakers Still Looking To Deal; Kyrie Irving Remains Target

The Lakers are still active on the trade front and Nets star Kyrie Irving is still very much in their sights. They very much remain determined to move Russell Westbrook, sources have told Hoops Wire.

Along with that, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on Get Up that he believes the Lakers will eventually make a trade this offseason.

“I think the Lakers will make a deal, maybe more than one deal,” Wojnarowski said. “It may not be for Kyrie Irving, it may not be for an All-NBA player, an All-Star… It’s not completely dead with Brooklyn… I don’t think the Lakers are done.”

That said, there is plenty of doubt around the NBA whether the Nets would take back Westbrook in an Irving deal. In fact, it is believed the Nets have no interest in Westbrook at all — as a member of the team, or as a buyout candidate.

So in order to land Irving, the Lakers would likely need to find a third team. Irving, for his part, reportedly is just fine with staying in Brooklyn.

So that’s where other trades come in. The Lakers have also been linked to Rockets shooting guard Eric Gordon, Pacers shooting guard Buddy Hield and Jazz guard Patrick Beverley.

All are the type of veteran “win-now” players the Lakers are seeking after going young in free agency — signing the likes of Lonnie Walker, Damian Jones, Thomas Bryant, Troy Brown and Juan Toscano-Anderson.

Along with Westbrook, multiple reports have said the Lakers are willing to trade Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn. Neither or both would bring back much in return, though the Lakers would likely have to deal them if they truly want an experienced playoff player. 

Also, sources said that several rival teams have expressed in Austin Reaves, the shooting guard who is coming off a promising rookie season.

So the Lakers have some pieces, and while they are short on picks, should be able to find a way to make a deal or two, as Wojnarowski suggested. It won’t be impossible, but they will have to get creative. And particularly creative if they really intend to land Irving.