The Spurs could be the missing piece in a Kyrie Irving-Russell Westbrook trade.
According to Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus, the Nets and Lakers have held "preliminary discussions" on a trade centered around Irving, and both sides are "exploring the potential" of making it a multi-team deal by pulling in the Spurs.
What would be in it for the Spurs? Pincus adds that Westbrook's expiring contract isn't appealing to the Nets, who project to be over the luxury tax threshold. The Spurs have the means to create room for Westbrook's contract and would likely receive draft compensation for doing so.
League sources stressed that Brooklyn views resolving Kevin Durant's trade request as a significantly higher priority than clearing Irving's final $36.9 million of the Nets' books.
But the Irving/Westbrook disaster could eventually be resolved with the Spurs' help, with San Antonio taking on Westbrook's salary into cap room for draft considerations. That would help the Nets generate a massive trade exception for as much as Irving's entire salary.
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The Spurs have already been involved in a big deal this offseason, trading Dejounte Murray, who is coming off a season in which he was named an All-Star with career-highs of 21.1 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, to the Hawks for Danilo Gallinari and multiple first-round picks.
The Spurs will reportedly waive Gallinari, paving the way for him to sign with the Celtics.
That trade, along with dealing Derrick White to the Celtics at the 2022 trade deadline, signals that the Spurs are looking to rebuild.
Westbrook "wouldn't appeal to the Spurs," per Pincus. The presumption is that the two sides would come to terms on a buyout if the nine-time All-Star were to be traded to San Antonio, allowing Westbrook to join another team.
Westbrook was traded to the Lakers ahead of the 2021-22 season. He appeared in 78 games, averaging 18.5 points — his fewest since his sophomore season — to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
After news broke of Durant's trade request, Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported that there have been whispers about Irving's "mutual desire" to reunite with LeBron James, but a third or fourth team would likely need to be involved to take on Westbrook's salary.
Having picked up his player option, Westbrook is on the books for $47.1 million in 2022-23.
