NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for Kyrie Irving

3. Los Angeles Lakers

Two years ago, the idea of Irving reuniting with LeBron James would be laughable.

In July 2017, Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers because he wanted “to play in a situation where he can be more of a focal point” and didn’t want to continue playing “alongside LeBron James,” according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. The Cavaliers wound up sending Irving to the Celtics one month later for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick and a 2020 second-rounder.

In mid-January, however, Irving revealed that he had called James and apologized for “being that young player that wanted everything at his fingertips.”

“I wanted to be the guy that led us to a championship,” he told reporters. “I wanted to be the leader. I wanted to be all that, and the responsibility of being the best in the world and leading your team is something that is not meant for many people.”

Windhorst recently reported Irving is “more open” to joining the Lakers because of a “thawing” in his relationship with James, and he has reportedly “done some research on the organization.” However, Windhorst said the Lakers are likely lower on his priority list than some of the other “great opportunities” he’ll be presented with this summer, such as the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks.

The Lakers have enough salary-cap space to offer Irving a max deal, and they have James and a promising young core, including this year’s No. 4 overall pick. But if Irving previously grew frustrated about taking a backseat to James in Cleveland, he may think twice about committing his future to the hilariously dysfunctional Lakers.