Last week, Irving exercised the $36.5 million player option to stay with the Nets, but just a few days later, there were indications that the point guard hoped to get out of Brooklyn. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Irving was “focused on forcing himself” to the Lakers in a trade.
A deal between the two teams was predicated on swapping two pricy point guards with the Lakers reportedly including Russell Westbrook in the talks. Westbrook exercised a $47.1 million player option last week.
Irving, 30, missed more than half the 2021-22 season due to his decision not to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In 29 regular-season games, he averaged 27.4 points, 5.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds. The Nets reached the postseason, but were swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics.
Earlier in his career, Irving and LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a win in the 2016 NBA Finals.
