NBA insider: ‘There’s no traction on any type of a Lakers deal for Kyrie Irving’

NBA insider Shams Charania clarified that there is “no traction on any type of a Lakers deal for Kyrie Irving” despite rumors on the topic. 

Kyrie Irving may have made his short-term commitment to the Brooklyn Nets clear in the most Kyrie way possible, but that hasn’t stopped other teams from wanting him.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that the Lakers were the only team interested in a potential sign-and-trade for the Nets star, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, there is currently “no traction” for a deal of any kind.

“There’s no traction on any type of a Lakers deal for Kyrie Irving,” Charania said. “There’s nothing new on that, and I’m not quite sure we’re gonna see that take place.”

NBA insiders discuss the possibility of Kyrie Irving to the Lakers

Wojnarowski’s June 27 report offered insight into the environment surrounding Kyrie Irving’s future with the Nets, which is now inextricably linked to the future of Kevin Durant in Brooklyn.

Durant has long been an advocate to get Brooklyn to commit to Irving to a lengthy maximum contract, but apparently the team remains “reluctant”, according to Wojnarowski’s sources.

Wojnarowski also reported that Irving has “great interest in joining the Lakers,” but that doesn’t meant the Nets are willing to compromise their asset. The Lakers and Kyrie may be interested, but it will take the permission of the Nets for a deal to materialize. As of now, they have Durant for four more years and Irving opting in this season. The Nets still have time to consider their long-term prospects with Irving and whether or not they’d like to commit to him in the years to come.

Irving’s decision to remain unvaccinated invariably cost the Nets a potentially higher seed in the East, and the point guard with a reputation for being mercurial could change his mind soon enough. Irving, Durant, and even Ben Simmons are no strangers to playing to market to suit their interests, so even if there’s no traction for a Lakers deal at the moment, the dynamics could rapidly change between the Nets and Irving if Irving really starts to push for that deal.