Kyrie Irving trade rumors: Nets and Lakers are actively discussing a deal involving Russell Westbrook.

The Brooklyn Nets And Los Angeles Lakers Making progress in trades to replace Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook. According to Chris Haynes. Other pieces will need to be involved, but there is “clear confidence” the two sides can find a deal this summer.

Irving recently opted out of the final year of his $36.4 million contract, but is expected to be traded after his star teammate Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Nets. “If Kevin Durant takes the first train, Kyrie Irving will be in the caboose as far as the Nets are concerned,” Brian Windhorst reported earlier this week.

He’s coming off a season where he played 29 games — the first time Irving has played 70 games in a season since 2017 — because he refused to get a Covid-19 vaccine and given his previous injury history. Cleveland Cavaliers — The market for Mercurial Card is understandably not as strong as Durant’s.

However, the Lakers have little to lose. Irving represents the best opportunity to add talent this summer, and he has a previous relationship with LeBron James. Both players will hit free agency next season, and the Lakers are trying to get one more title from the duo of LeBron and Anthony Davis. Irving has his fair share of negatives, but on the court he’ll be a better fit than Westbrook, and would greatly increase the Lakers’ title odds.

Of course, trading Westbrook is easier said than done; The Lakers have been trying to do so since the middle of last season, months after they first acquired him. He recently opted out of the final year of his contract, which is worth $47 million. Plus, he’s past his prime, but still needs the ball in his hands more often.

There aren’t any basketball situations that really make sense, but the Nets are in a bad place after the Durant trade request and may be willing to take Westbrook as an expiring deal if they can move Irving and make some concessions. Lakers. In particular, the Nets will be eager to get some of the draft picks they’re owed Houston Rockets In the years to come via the James Harden trade.

For Haynes, draft compensation is currently one of the biggest sticking points in completing a trade. The Lakers have released a stack of future draft picks through the Anthony Davis deal, and have not offered to attach future first-round picks to move Westbrook. If they can get Irving, it might be worth the price. Also, teams openly disagree on other players being involved. More importantly, Joe Harris, who has two years and $38.6 million left on his contract, is coming off ankle surgery while the Lakers try to acquire Seth Curry.

A deal doesn’t seem imminent at this point, but if the two sides are this far along in discussions, it won’t be long before Irving reunites with LeBron and dons the purple and gold.