Lakers Make Next Step In Kyrie Irving Pursuit Ahead Of Free Agency

The Los Angeles Lakers may make a big splash in free agency and Kyrie Irving is still on their list. LeBron James’ former teammate has been linked to the team for a really long time and he will now meet with the Lakers. The Dallas Mavericks will try to keep him around, but Irving is free to go wherever he wants. He will also meet with the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers.

Sources tell @CBSSports that on top of Dallas and Phoenix, Kyrie Irving will meet today with Miami, Houston, the Lakers and the Clippers. Meetings will be in Los Angeles and, in a few cases, remote.

— Bill Reiter (@sportsreiter) June 30, 2023

Irving and LeBron James played together in Cleveland and even won a championship together. This could push Irving close to LA. Will he even agree to play on LeBron’s team once again?

The Lakers had a chance to get Irving at the trade deadline, but it didn’t happen.

“I can’t sit here and say I’m not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent, but [also] someone that I had great chemistry with, and know I got great chemistry with on the floor, that can help you win championships, in my mind, in my eyes,” LeBron told ESPN’s Michael Wilbon in February.

Lakers will have to compete with the Mavericks in order to get Irving in free agency

Chris Haynes from Bleacher Report believes that Dallas won’t let Irving slip down their hands. They may offer him a five-year deal worth $272 million. Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN discussed Irving’s plans with the Mavericks and their interest to keep him on their squad.

“Kyrie Irving is trying to create a market out there,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said. “It may just not be there for him. Certainly, Dallas, I think, is going to try to show some restraint, some discipline on what they’re going to offer Kyrie Irving with a new deal in Dallas. It’s going to be more than anybody else can offer him.

“I think he’s going to try to spend some time here trying to manufacture a marketplace of salary cap space and teams that might actually scare Dallas into thinking they have to up their offer. I’m not sure that’s happening. That will be an interesting process as it plays out. I still think Kyrie Irving inevitably will return back to Dallas on a deal to play with Luka Doncic.”