Kyrie Irving Prediction

[Ed Monix]

He’s going to screw over another team and walk in free agency, to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Recently looking at the trade deadline moves by Rob Pelinka, yes it makes the Lakers a little bit more competitive now, but it leaves Anthony Davis & LeBron James as the only guaranteed contracts on the books for the 23-24 season.

The salary cap will be $134 million next season, with a luxury tax threshold of $162 million.

Davis & James account for 86 million, leaving 76 million in theoretical free cap space.

Along with their own free agents, there are several viable options that would elevate the Lakers to contenders.

Kyrie Irving

Draymond Green

Harrison Barnes

Bogdan Bogdanovic

Kyle Kuzma

Josh Hart

Jordan Clarkson

Kevin Love

[gouki88]

I don't think Kyrie would pursue another set of bright lights after his Brooklyn experience to be honest. I think he'll potentially try and weasel his way to Phoenix somehow

[timpiker]

I agree about the Faker prediction.  Not sure what I think about it if it happens.  I certainly want to see the Fakers fail big time.  Cryee has a habit of ruining teams so this may be great.  By the way, I cannot see how Cryee and Luka can possibly play together just as I couldn't see it happening with Harden.  2 Ballhogs cannot possibly coexist. 

[Roy H.]

I think that LA would be better off building a team, rather than focusing on a third star.  Dumping most of their free agents to sign somebody like Kyrie sounds terrible to me.

[Surferdad]

I think that LA would be better off building a team, rather than focusing on a third star.  Dumping most of their free agents to sign somebody like Kyrie sounds terrible to me.

Sure, but what is your prediction, Roy?...knowing what you know about LAL dysfunctionality.

[Goldstar88]

Wouldn’t be surprised if Kyrie played nice for the remainder of the season in order to get his extension. Then at some point next year, he can start with the usual antics to get where he wants to go.

[celticsclay]

He’s going to screw over another team and walk in free agency, to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Recently looking at the trade deadline moves by Rob Pelinka, yes it makes the Lakers a little bit more competitive now, but it leaves Anthony Davis & LeBron James as the only guaranteed contracts on the books for the 23-24 season.

The salary cap will be $134 million next season, with a luxury tax threshold of $162 million.

Davis & James account for 86 million, leaving 76 million in theoretical free cap space.

Along with their own free agents, there are several viable options that would elevate the Lakers to contenders.

Kyrie Irving

Draymond Green

Harrison Barnes

Bogdan Bogdanovic

Kyle Kuzma

Josh Hart

Jordan Clarkson

Kevin Love

Unless I am misreading these salaries your premise is inaccurate. They actually took on a significant amount of salary for next season including about 16 million for bamba and vanderbilt. They also said they want to keep rui which is another significant hold. The only major expiring they got is D’Angelo russell and he is irrelevant cause they gave up an expiring to get him. Am I missing something here?

[kraidstar]

And even if everyone was expiring, they'd have to renounce their entire roster to sign Irving or anyone of consequence. They'd have only '$35m in cap space and then a roster of new minimum salary guys

[Walker Wiggle]

Here's their payroll: https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/LAL.html

Lebron and AD will make $94m combined next year (!). Max Christie and Davon Reid (who?) are guaranteed for another $4m. Every other contract appears to either be a team option or unguaranteed.

Yes, I do think Lebron will angle for the Lakers to sign Kyrie. I just don't think you can win a title that way, like teams were gunning to do a decade ago. (That is, try to amass three superstars and just worry about the depth after that.) You won't be able to field a championship team made up mostly of vet minimums and buyouts, no matter how good your top 3 are.

Also: Lebron will be 39 years old next year. Either he falls off, or someone needs to give him a blood test one of these days.

[Moranis]

I think that LA would be better off building a team, rather than focusing on a third star.  Dumping most of their free agents to sign somebody like Kyrie sounds terrible to me.

The Lakers just need players that can play well with Lebron and who are solid players.  Frankly, I like the moves they made.  I think if they can keep the main guys they just got and then add some vets like Kevin Love to the bench, they can be a pretty solid team in the future.  They have a few months to see how Russell fits with Lebron and AD, but other than that I think they are going to stay mostly pat.

[Donoghus]

 

Marc Stein
@TheSteinLine
·
6m
Kyrie Irving, speaking at his introductory news conference, says he doesn't plan to answer questions about his long-term future in Dallas, asserting that they create "unwanted distractions" for the team and describing the topic as "very draining."

[Phantom255x]

Marc Stein
@TheSteinLine
·
6m
Kyrie Irving, speaking at his introductory news conference, says he doesn't plan to answer questions about his long-term future in Dallas, asserting that they create "unwanted distractions" for the team and describing the topic as "very draining."

He's already gone!

 

[Ed Monix]

Marc Stein
@TheSteinLine
·
6m
Kyrie Irving, speaking at his introductory news conference, says he doesn't plan to answer questions about his long-term future in Dallas, asserting that they create "unwanted distractions" for the team and describing the topic as "very draining."

He's already gone!

 

Yep!

I remember reading reports that Irving wanted to sign with the Lakers & LeBron clearly wanted Irving there too. The issue was that the Lakers couldn’t match the Mavs trade package.

I obviously could be wrong, but IMO, he has no intention of re-signing in Dallas…he just wanted out of Brooklyn.

Irving doesn’t care if he destroys another franchise.

[radiohead]

Marc Stein
@TheSteinLine
·
6m
Kyrie Irving, speaking at his introductory news conference, says he doesn't plan to answer questions about his long-term future in Dallas, asserting that they create "unwanted distractions" for the team and describing the topic as "very draining."

He's already gone!

 

Yep!

I remember reading reports that Irving wanted to sign with the Lakers & LeBron clearly wanted Irving there too. The issue was that the Lakers couldn’t match the Mavs trade package.

I obviously could be wrong, but IMO, he has no intention of re-signing in Dallas…he just wanted out of Brooklyn.

Irving doesn’t care if he destroys another franchise.

The Lakers have cleared up salary enough for a  max contract right?
Will Kyrie make them contenders?

[Ed Monix]

The Lakers have cleared up salary enough for a  max contract right?
Will Kyrie make them contenders?

Not sure about contender, but LeBron, Davis & Irving would probably be the best ‘big three’ in the league. It would all depend on how they fill out their roster obviously.

IMO, the Celtics currently constructed would destroy the Lakers, even with Irving.