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Quote from: jakelyson on July 13, 2022, 08:08:23 PM

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Of course the problem is that, if you are willing to get westbrook, then you should be hoping to get something else. The biggest trouble with the Irving deal is that if you give Westbrook, and even if you give some picks which Lakers barely have any, you are sending him to Durant, which we all know they both dislike each other and that would be a problem.

Maybe that is why Nets are trying to move Durant first before they take care of Irving. But if they move Durant and then get Westbrook, then they are left with Simmons and Westbrook which we know both of them don't shoot well. It will be a disaster. That is why I do not see Westbrook-Irving trade scenario to happen.

That is what the Nets is trying to do but the Lakers are more interested to get Kyrie Irving rather than Kevin Durant because the latter's trade is much more complicated as it means that the Lakers need to free 2 or 3 players for Durant; whereas if the Lakers get Irving in exchange for Westbrook.

It's too unfortunate for the Nets because they had to come up with this situation because their 2 all-star player wanted to move out after the Nets had done for this two. Back to the Lakers, I believe LBJ is pressuring the management to get Irving though than Durant because the King was vocal that he's still upset with Westbrook.

Read for more: https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2022-07-11/what-rival-scouts-executives-think-about-lakers-roster

Obviously the first thing the Lakers need to do is rid themselves of Russell Westbrook's contract. That has to be the #1 thing. It's probably difficult for them to work with the Nets because the Nets don't want Westbrook and Durant on the same roster. Imagine all the talk on sports broadcasts... I don't believe they want that distraction, so they're trying to do a Durant deal first. They're willing to give Kyrie away to get rid of his attitude, so obviously they need to focus on Durant first. That's the trade piece they want to maximize. I think doing a Westbrook deal first takes a little of their leverage away from Durant talks, as the league knows the Nets won't want those two playing together.

They already rid of their coach, Vogel so that is a good move already. And obviously, Westbrook is not a fit for them, so that too will be the best move for their franchise and we can say that it was a wrong trade for them witt Washington. The Warriors has raised the bar already not just in the West, but the whole NBA. So the Lakers will have to adjust, not sure about getting Kyrie or Durant though is a good idea as well as they will have to give out a lot of their players.

I don't think they'll need to give up much to get Kyrie. I think mostly it will be some worthless draft picks (busts happen even at the #1 spot) and getting rid of Westbrook's contract, which is the #1 reason to make the trade.

Interestingly, the Lakers seem to be hedging their Kyrie bet, or maybe just trying to apply some pressure to Brooklyn. Today the talk is that they're looking to sign Patrick Beverly. I can't imagine that they would do this if they're picking up Kyrie, but maybe... More likely to me is that they're showing Brooklyn they have other options.