Kyrie Irving and his contractual situation with the Brooklyn Nets is currently the headline of the 2022 NBA offseason. Kyrie has a player option for the 2022-23 season. But according to reports, Kyrie is looking for a long-term max contract from the Nets, and the Nets are having cold feet because of that. There have been reports of many teams in the running for Kyrie if he becomes a free agent. And it looks like the offseason drama is just heating up.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the teams mentioned to be in the running for Kyrie. If this happens, it will be a reunion for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving after their time together in Cleaveland. After playing together for three years, Kyrie would demand a trade and would go to the Boston Celtics in 2017.
WATCH THIS STORY???5 best Memes on Chris Paul Choking Yet Again in the NBA Playoffs
With reports of an impasse between Kyrie and the Nets management, speculation of Kyrie to the Los Angeles Lakers is heating up. And Kyrie’s latest cryptic clip on Twitter has added fuel to the fire and has left Laker fans in pandemonium. Look at some of the reactions below –
It’s time to come home Kyrie pic.twitter.com/uyAYmp7i9A
— MA (@MA99______) June 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/LakerLand_/status/1538891404784586753?s=20&t=VuZfdjAoGRzUDv0s-cvqtQ
https://twitter.com/BolWrld/status/1538895854018387970?s=20&t=VuZfdjAoGRzUDv0s-cvqtQ
Fulfill the prophecy brother. 🤲🏾 pic.twitter.com/vRVC8PbOAn
— D.Brown (@LongLiveDBrown) June 20, 2022
Time to bring the duo back kyrie cmon yk you want to🗣 pic.twitter.com/KZd2zggRVE
— blake (@iyokil24) June 20, 2022
Come to LA Kyrie pic.twitter.com/STjtwkoQmz
— Alex 🇵🇭 (56-39) (@Fire__Monkey23) June 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/RivendellInonog/status/1538890626313650176?s=20&t=VuZfdjAoGRzUDv0s-cvqtQ
https://twitter.com/ShaiDimes/status/1538890958774972416?s=20&t=VuZfdjAoGRzUDv0s-cvqtQ
It would be a great move for the Lakers if the front office could pull this off in this off-season. But it looks like, the Lakers fans are already on board.
Lakers and the offseason of opportunity
The Los Angeles Lakers, by all means, had a catastrophic 2021-22 NBA season. They were one of the preseason favorites to win it all and at least qualify for the NBA Finals. After losing to the Suns in the first round of 2021 Playoffs, the Lakers thought of adding more star power. And they acquired former MVP Russell Westbrook to form a “Big 3 ” in LA.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
But the trade would leave the Lakers with fewer defensive pieces to work around. Adding veteran players well past their primes didn’t help the team either. Because of being capped out, they couldn’t sign important role players like Alex Caruso.
And the Lakers’ season never really took off. Also, the roster suffered multiple injuries which took a hit on the team’s chemistry. The veterans never contributed enough, and it led to the Lakers not even qualifying for the play-in tournament. Head coach Frank Vogel was let go shortly after and the new coach Darvin Ham was signed recently. But Ham will have his work cut out for him. The Lakers front office needs to re-tool this roster. Signing a player like Kyrie Irving will help them achieve that.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Let us know in the comments below your expectations for the Lakers offseason.