1. Acquire Kyrie Irving…as a free agent
This may be, perhaps, the biggest move the Lakers can make to increase their odds of making it to the NBA Finals out of the West next season. That move is acquiring Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets.
After signing Irving to build a super team alongside Kevin Durant, it is now reported that the star and the Brooklyn Nets are at an impasse regarding a new contract. With that, Irving already has a list of potential sign-and-trade destinations if he can not reach an agreement with the Nets on a new deal. The Lakers are a team on the list.
The thing is, the Lakers do not have the assets to make a trade with the Nets for Irving. But, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst pointed out on “Get Up,” there is fear in Brooklyn that Irving could choose to sign for the mid-level exception to play for the Lakers.
"There is a concern in Brooklyn that Kyrie could be inventive enough to leave the money on the table to go play with the Lakers & reunite with LeBron...Going to play with LeBron & the Lakers for the mid-level, you can't rule that out."
— 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐍𝐁𝐀 (@_Talkin_NBA) June 23, 2022
— Brian Windhorst#NBATwitter #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/8VfiqkdPpb
Whether that happens remains to be seen. But if that becomes a legitimate possibility for the Lakers, they should do it. Having Irving on the team and stay on the court for the majority of the season will make them an even better team.