The Brooklyn Nets finally traded controversial All-Star starter Kyrie Irving on Sunday. The Nets dealt Irving away to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for two players – Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith – and multiple draft picks. Brooklyn’s trade of Irving means one big thing as well:
Kyrie Irving is not going to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Earlier this week after Irving’s trade request became public, the Lakers emerged as a potential suitor. One rumored deal would have seen Kyrie sent to LA in exchange for former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook. But that trade obviously did not come to fruition. LeBron James also appeared to make his stance on a reunion with Irving, who he won an NBA championship with in 2016, very clear. But despite what the King wanted, the King will not get it.
The small fortune Dallas used to acquire Irving — two players and draft picks no sooner than 2027 — had to also pour some salt in the wound as well. It makes sense that it didn’t require much, given the baggage Kyrie brings to Dallas along with him. But for some, maybe that was the point of why Laker fans sought after him so much.
But now with the trade deadline days away, LA won’t come away with the perceived biggest prize. Where will they turn to try and improve their team? The Lakers are 25-29 and two games behind 10th-place New Orleans for the final playoff spot.
They may need a lot, but they won’t get Irving, and the NBA world reacted to that news.
LeBron seeing Kyrie get traded to the Mavspic.twitter.com/Qa6zd886Hc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 5, 2023
NBA fans watching Lakers not get Kyrie Irving pic.twitter.com/TMad0yVFBX
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 5, 2023
The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to secure a trade for Kyrie Irving… pic.twitter.com/R1WxYBNfKN
— Guru (@DrGuru_) February 5, 2023
Lakers fans thinking they were getting Kyrie Irving for Russell Westbrook in the offseason and at the trade deadline is hilarious.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) February 5, 2023
Lakers fans seeing Kyrie Irving getting traded to the Mavericks
— NBA SKITS (@NBA_Skits) February 5, 2023
Lakers fumbling the Kyrie Irving trade pic.twitter.com/XziA4y2fFw
— Sami Hassan (@BullsTimes) February 5, 2023
Honestly, I never believed Kyrie Irving was the best fit for the Lakers on this trade market.
They already ranked 15th in half-court points per play, but they're 21st in defense and dead last in made 3-pointers.
They need 3-AND-D players, not just one awesome isolation scorer.
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) February 5, 2023
Kyrie Irving no Dallas.
Torcida do Lakers:
pic.twitter.com/ApJ4YB7QvZ— Raptors Brasil (@RaptorsBrazil) February 5, 2023
This Kyrie Irving news should help Lakers fans realize that the Bubble Championship put their team in purgatory.
— KEL° (@Kel_Eclectic) February 5, 2023
This Kyrie Irving trade has got all the delusional Lakers fans imploding right now.
Schadenfreude.
— Aron Tecleab (@colortheghost) February 5, 2023