The idea of a LeBron James-Kyrie Irving reunion in the city of Angels remains a big possibility as the 2019 NBA free agency period gets closer and closer. As expected, all eyes are on Irving as he makes his next move in free agency. After two seasons with the Boston Celtics, rumors are ramping up about the All-Star guard’s plan to bolt out and play with another team next season.
Irving already opted out from the final year of his contract worth $21.3 million to join a loaded free agency class that includes Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, and many other top-level players.
The Celtics will exhaust all options to keep Irving for at least five more years in Boston. However, all directions are pointing towards the guard joining the Brooklyn Nets.
Irving’s decision to part ways with his long-time agent, Jeff Wechsler in favor of Roc Nation Sports, which is owned by Rap artist and Brooklyn icon Jay-Z, intensified speculation that he’s heading to the Nets.
Potential Lakers Nation reunion?
Still, nothing is set in stone regarding Irving’s free agency status. The Nets are surely the favorites the land him, but reports indicate the Celtics and Knicks are still in the mix.
Another question to consider now, is how would the Lakers’ trade for Anthony Davis affect Irving’s free-agency?
Many NBA analysts believe the Anthony Davis trade would make the Lakers an intriguing destination for Irving, considering the report about his interest of playing with Davis.
Sam Amick of the Athletic further fanned the Irving to Lakers rumors after he reported that a source coming from LeBron’s inner circle told him that they are confident Irving will pick the Lakers in free agency, reuniting him with his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate and Davis.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that as a result of the Anthony Davis trade being completed on July 6 instead of July 30, the Lakers can no longer offer Irving a max-level salary of $32.5 million. The only possible scenario where Irving can join the Lakers is if he takes a significant pay-cut.
Kyrie Irving Brooklyn-bound
Irving, who is eligible for a super-max contract (five-year, $220 million) if he signs with the Boston Celtics, is already viewed as "good as gone" by the Boston media with Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reporting that he essentially ghosted his team over the last two years.
“The strangest part of the Irving situation right now is that it appears he has essentially ghosted on the Celtics. The people within the organization I have spoken with have made it clear that they have had little if any, communication with Irving in recent weeks,” said Himmelsbach in the Boston Globe of Irving's actions with the Celtics front office.
The Nets seem very much poised to add Irving and possibly another star player with their two max-level slots.
Nets front-office hopes that an accompanying star would be Kevin Durant, even though he’s expected to miss the full 2019-2020 season after undergoing surgery to fix a ruptured Achilles. If Durant is out of the equation, the Nets would be happy pairing Irving with the likes of Jimmy Butler or Tobias Harris moving forward.
