The trade that makes LeBron and Luka happy - Irving to LAL

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Re: The trade that makes LeBron and Luka happy - Irving to LAL 

Post#21 » by Mavrelous » Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:31 am

Lakers shouldn't do this, you don't trade for an injured player that'll come back north of 34.
P.S. Luka/Kai were really bad w/o the relevant role players, Reaves is more than enough co-guard, Lakers should invest in defense and rebounding.
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Re: The trade that makes LeBron and Luka happy - Irving to LAL 

Post#22 » by Darren » Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:02 am

GSW has offered Butler for Lebron. I don't know if LA wants to take on Butler, though. Surely, it's easier to get things done if LAL plan to fish in 2027.
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Re: The trade that makes LeBron and Luka happy - Irving to LAL 

Post#23 » by Darren » Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:04 am

In the short run, on paper, the starting lineup could be more balanced. But with Butter, injury issues and character concerns are always there.
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Re: The trade that makes LeBron and Luka happy - Irving to LAL 

Post#24 » by Texas Chuck » Wed Jul 16, 2025 7:21 pm

The only relevant question here is what does Kyrie look like post-injury. If he's nothing close to the guy he was, LA would lose here. If he is, there is really no chance Reaves brings as much value on a similar contract number(if Dallas can even retain him at that or at all) as Kyrie is quite clearly still a pretty significantly better player.

And because the health can't be decided now, LA has to decide is Kyrie what we want to spend our flexibility on? I'm going to say no, they are the Lakers and have to figure they can do better for a Luka co-star. Now this changes if they are thinking about Lebron beyond this year, then maybe.

And for the Mavs being all-in on win now with AD, they can't risk the downgrade and potential walking away from Reaves. And thats without getting into they can't give up Kyrie for Reaves when the whole world knows they could and should have gotten Reaves in the Luka deal to begin with.

Lebron to Dallas has a 1% chance of happening if Lebron decides he wants to play with AD/Kyrie again. Kyrie to LA feels far less than that for the above reasons.
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Re: The trade that makes LeBron and Luka happy - Irving to LAL 

Post#25 » by Apz » Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:31 pm

Darren wrote:GSW has offered Butler for Lebron. I don't know if LA wants to take on Butler, though. Surely, it's easier to get things done if LAL plan to fish in 2027.


Only way they save cap for 27 is if luka doesnt extend and walks after this season. Also, that lakers saving cap for 27 seems to only come from lebrons camp, so most likely just another way to try to put pressure on the fo and build annoyance in the fanbase

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