In 2023, what did the Lakers propose for Kyrie Irving?

The Los Angeles Lakers found themselves in a difficult situation when they acquired Russell Westbrook in a trade pushed by LeBron James in 2021. Desperate to move Westbrook and receive some value in return, the Lakers set their sights on Kyrie Irving, who was reportedly unhappy with the Brooklyn Nets at the time. In the summer of 2022, the Lakers made an initial attempt to land Irving, but negotiations didn’t progress far enough.

As the 2022-23 trade deadline approached, the Lakers made another effort to trade for Irving, but were once again unsuccessful. Ultimately, Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, who will face the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals starting on Thursday. Reports from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin revealed that the Lakers offered Westbrook and two future first-round draft picks in exchange for Irving.

Although there were initial concerns about offering two future first-round picks in a trade involving Westbrook, Lakers executive Rob Pelinka was reportedly hesitant to make such a move. LeBron James expressed on his podcast “Mind the Game” that he was proud of Irving’s journey to the NBA Finals, but disappointed that they weren’t able to play together on the Lakers.

While some Lakers fans may have been resistant to the idea of trading for Irving in the past, many now likely wish they had the opportunity to see him and James reunited in Los Angeles. The pursuit of Irving by the Lakers showcased their desire to strengthen the team and bring in top talent to compete at a high level in the NBA.