The Brooklyn Nets made a massive move on Sunday, trading disgruntled star Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks. The Los Angeles Lakers were also a serious suitor for Irving, and their reported trade offer to the Nets has been revealed.
The Nets ultimately received Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round and multiple second-round picks in return for Irving and Markieff Morris.
According to NBA insider for TNT Chris Haynes, the Lakers offered both a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick included in their package for Irving.
Sources: Brooklyn Nets received Los Angeles Lakers’ proposal that did include team’s two first-round picks (2027, 2029) and Phoenix Suns’ offer of Chris Paul, Jae Crowder and unspecified picks: @NBATV pic.twitter.com/cJuABbaYGy
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 6, 2023
The Lakers have been far from impressive the past couple of seasons. That has continued this year. Entering Sunday’s play, Los Angeles is 25-29.
There is certainly a chance that those picks offered to Brooklyn could become extremely valuable. LeBron James is an aging star who may ultimately end up leaving Los Angeles this offseason. There are also no real up-and-coming players in Los Angeles of note that look all that promising.
The Lakers’ future picks undoubtedly look more valuable than the picks offered by the Mavericks considering they have a rising superstar in Luka Dončić.
Many around the NBA world believe that the Nets may have made a huge mistake in not taking this offer from the Lakers.
So Brooklyn took the worst package of the three? The Lakers' picks top the one they got from Dallas and Paul and Crowder > Dinwiddie and DFS. I'm confused. https://t.co/rcANC22M9Q
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) February 6, 2023
Oh wow https://t.co/CbALhTG9FY
— Anthony Nash (@_anthonynash) February 6, 2023
Nets should've taken the Lakers picks to spare everyone from hearing more fake trades involving them https://t.co/jc3S2USBJy
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 6, 2023
While Lakers fans are likely extremely disappointed that they didn’t end up getting Irving, it may ultimately be a blessing for them in the long run.
Kyrie Irving is set to become a free agent this offseason and he has consistently shown that he has no issues switching teams in free agency. There is no guarantee that he would have returned to Los Angeles if he had been traded there.
The Mavericks are hoping that Irving is the missing piece alongside Luka Dončić, and they should absolutely be one of the most entertaining duos in the NBA.
