There is never a dull day in the NBA news cycle.
The drama continued in Brooklyn on Saturday, as Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported the Nets and Lakers are "actively engaged" in trade discussions centered around All-Star guards Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook.
MORE: What went wrong for KD and Kyrie?
The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are actively engaged in trade discussions centered on a Russell Westbrook-Kyrie Irving package, league sources tell @YahooSports: https://t.co/trNOzrmNbI
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 2, 2022
It has been one heck of a stretch for the Nets organization, which has been dealing with an avalanche of problems related to their star duo of Irving and Kevin Durant.
It all started when the franchise was having problems with Irving's contract negotiations. Irving ultimately decided to pick up his player option to remain in Brooklyn. Despite Irving's commitment for another year, Durant still elected to submit a formal trade request to the front office, sending shockwaves through the NBA.
As the Nets field offers for the one-time MVP, they now appear to be engaging in a possible trade to send Irving to Los Angeles.
How can the Lakers trade for Kyrie Irving?
As Haynes reported, trade talks between the Lakers and Nets have only been "preliminary," but he did drop some intel as to what a potential trade could look like.
Draft compensation aside, a one-for-one swap between Irving and Westbrook doesn't work because the Nets would be acquiring too much salary, even with Irving making $37 million next season. Westbrook is set to make $47 million next season, so the Nets would need to throw in more players to make the money work.
Haynes also mentioned draft compensation is "an ongoing talking point" for the Nets, but they reportedly want the Lakers to take on the contract of veteran sharpshooter Joe Harris, who is owed $38.6 million over the next two years.
The Lakers would prefer Seth Curry, who is on an expiring deal and only making $8.5 million next season.
If the Lakers were able to grant the Nets' request for significant draft compensation and a willingness to take on Harris' contract, the money would work in an Irving-for-Westbrook deal.
But according to Haynes, "the Nets are not expected to be rushed into a deal and will continue conversing the complex specifics with the Lakers on an Irving-Westbrook swap."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that on the Lakers side, things haven't progressed in trying to pull off a deal for Irving.
Woj: “The Lakers have yet, I'm told, to be aggressive in trying to put a deal together to get him [Kyrie] from BKN. That may come, that may evolve with time. But so far right now, there's no traction really on deals with either Irving or Durant."
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 4, 2022
pic.twitter.com/BK9KSAgQVN
It may not seem sensical, but an Irving-Westbrook trade is indeed possible at some point this offseason.
