Los Angeles Lakers: How Kyrie Irving can be the team’s third superstar
By Jason Reed
Kyrie Irving’s recent comments about LeBron James has caused a lot of speculation, including a road for Irving to go to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been in the market for a second superstar ever since the team signed LeBron James on the first day of free agency in 2018.
That narrative has shifted from Paul George to Kawhi Leonard with rumblings of Klay Thompson and even DeMarcus Cousins. Now, the most prevalent name tied to the Lakers is none other than Anthony Davis.
A trade for Davis would be interesting and would have to happen somewhat soon so the Lakers can capitalize on expiring contracts to even make the deal possible. It is possible, though, and the front office has more than enough ammunition to get it done.
It would leave the Lakers a bit thin on the roster but the team could make a darkhorse signing in the summer with Davis. That dark horse signing is Kyrie Irving, whose chances of ever wearing the purple and gold slightly increased.
This all started when Irving told reporters that he called LeBron James to vent frustration about the young Celtics team as James had encountered the same thing with Irving on the Cavaliers. The juiciest part? He even issued an apology to James.
Does this mean that Irving is going to come to the Lakers? Absolutely not. It is still more likely that he would stay in Boston or even head somewhere like the New York Knicks. However, it is still a possibility and is one that has been thrown around the NBA world.
Can the Los Angeles Lakers make it happen? Absolutely. The team does need to free up their current point guard in Lonzo Ball, though, which is where a Davis trade comes in very, very handy.
Right now the Los Angeles Lakers have $41.7 million in practical cap space, per Spotrac. If the Lakers were to trade Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Moritz Wagner (with picks, of course) the team would still have around $32.7 million in practical cap space.
Irving could make more if he signed a max contract but that number is still not far off from the most that he can make. $31-32 million is more than enough for Irving, especially if the Lakers backload his contract.
The team could then use its Bird Rights to extend Davis in the future, giving the Lakers a big four of Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma for years to come.
The rest of the roster would have to be filled out either by draft picks or guys on veteran minimums. Finding those guys is easy in the league and the team can simply offer JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler another one-year deal.
The team would still have Josh Hart, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Ivica Zubac to go off the bench. It would be easy to fill out an 11-man rotation.
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And in the process, the Los Angeles Lakers would be creating a super team that would be able to take down any NBA juggernaut, whether it is the Golden State Warriors or whatever superstar-loaded team that Kevin Durant joins next.