Kyrie Irving to Lakers still a possibility?

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, there are still some “high-ranking people” in the league who believe that Irving landing with Los Angeles could still happen. “I know that there are people in the league, and we’re not talking about ancillary people, we’re talking about high-ranking people, who believe that this is not done,” Windhorst said. “I don’t know. Let me just say this about the Lakers. He obviously was very interested in joining the Lakers. The Lakers were very interested in having him.”
Source: Jason Simpson @ Lakers Daily

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
New BS Podcast!
—The Knicks go all-in for Brunson, Kyrie/Nets madness + NBA media turning into pro wrestling w/ @VanLathan @BigWos
—A UFC 276 mega-preview w/ tortured Knicks fan @arielhelwani
—A Lakers PR advice session plus making “Loot” w/ @alanyang
open.spotify.com/episode/5D4tTd… – 12:30 AM Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
I wrote a Q+A for @The Athletic on Kyrie Irving’s decision to opt in. Whether he can still agree to an extension, whether the Nets can still trade him, Brooklyn’s books now and moving forward, and much more theathletic.com/3387211/2022/0… – 8:19 PM Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kyrie Irving-#Nets soap opera far from over despite opt-in #nba nypost.com/2022/06/28/kyr… via @nypostsports – 7:24 PM Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
On today’s @PHNX_Suns pod, we argued about CP3 vs. Kyrie, non-Kevin Durant trades for the Suns, and why the KD dream might not be dead yet!
Listen/subscribe: https://t.co/A51s2pEU7P pic.twitter.com/lOUQGz2hR3 – 7:01 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
From earlier — ASK IRA: Are Pat Riley, Heat better off not having to consider Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving? sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 6:22 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
New Dunc’d On Prime: @Jake Fischer on the draft trades, Dejounte to Hawks, Nets/Kyrie, MEM and SAS plans, Bridges and Ayton markets, TJ Warren, and more. Join us duncdon.supportingcast.fm – 6:18 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
For the sickos who like to watch, Tuesday’s @Lockedonlakers podcast, YouTube version. We discuss Kyrie opting, what’s next for the Lakers, and whether Malik Monk at the TPMLE makes sense for the Lakers. @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
youtu.be/0n9bi_ixrss?t=… – 5:48 PM Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On Prime: Kyrie Opts-In w/ @Nate Duncan
Get 35% off the monthly price with our Mock Offseason Total Access Sale: https://t.co/n4QLDC9m6F pic.twitter.com/rAJl4v6Sfs – 5:30 PM Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
We’re going live on @PHNX_Suns in 2 minutes to talk Kyrie’s decision, why the Kevin Durant dream isn’t *completely* dead yet and some non-KD trade targets!
Join us:
https://t.co/7UhIVIaOzi pic.twitter.com/T2wXFg4Puk – 4:58 PM Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
I wrote a Q+A for @The Athletic on Kyrie Irving’s decision to opt in. Whether he can still agree to an extension, whether the Nets can still trade him, Brooklyn’s books now and moving forward, and much more- theathletic.com/3387211/2022/0… – 4:31 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Dunc’d On Prime: Kyrie Opts-In w/ @Danny Leroux
Get 35% off the monthly price with our Mock Offseason Total Access Sale: https://t.co/XSgwN6kjka pic.twitter.com/N2jFTmkeqM – 4:15 PM Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
NEW @TheCrossover Pod w/@Howard Beck: Kyrie opts in (which we discover five minutes into recording), Knicks all-in on free agency, evaluating the Blazers moves, more. Links: bit.ly/2w1G5e2 – 4:02 PM Greg Dickerson @gregdickerson13
If you’re still down over the game 6 loss. Just a reminder @Boston Celtics fans, Russell westbrick and kyrie don’t play for them..that should make u feel better – 3:33 PM Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
Listen to today’s episode of The Starting Lineup with @Frank Isola & @Brian Scalabrine on Pandora!
💰 Kyrie Irving opts in
🏀 @S10Bird joins the show
📰 HEADLINES!
pandora.app.link/akU72h5vYmb – 2:36 PM Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On Prime: Kyrie Opts-In w/ @Nate Duncan
Get 35% off the monthly price with our Mock Offseason Total Access Sale: https://t.co/n4QLDCqWYd pic.twitter.com/UaSEmcChN1 – 2:30 PM Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
Kyrie Irving has decided to opt in to his player option this season with the Nets
The team now has all the leverage moving forward with Kyrie, according to @EvCoRadio #NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/yXL86Y9Nq0 – 2:02 PM Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
Lowe Post podcast: Previewing free agency w/ @Bobby Marks: Kyrie opt-in reaction, and then we each pick out 5 Most Intriguing Free Agency teams:
Apple: apple.co/3NwVTaq
Spotify: spoti.fi/3nopYyg – 1:57 PM Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
I wrote a Q+A for @The Athletic on Kyrie Irving’s decision to opt in. Whether he can still agree to an extension, whether the Nets can still trade him, Brooklyn’s books now and moving forward, and much more: theathletic.com/3387211/2022/0… – 1:20 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: Kyrie Irving, Nets were close on contract extension nba.nbcsports.com/2022/06/28/rep… – 1:10 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Dunc’d On Prime: Kyrie Opts-In w/ @Danny Leroux
Get 35% off the monthly price with our Mock Offseason Total Access Sale: https://t.co/XSgwN6BUIK pic.twitter.com/qASnsAirEy – 12:15 PM Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
So much to unpack with Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and more. Looking forward to talk NBA free agency with
@GottliebShow on @FS1 & @FoxSportsRadio. Tune in at 10:15 am PT ihr.fm/2IBN81n – 12:00 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
ASK IRA: Are Pat Riley and the Heat better off not having to consider Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving? sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 11:51 AM Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
I wrote a Q+A for @The Athletic on Kyrie Irving’s decision to opt-in. Whether he can still agree to an extension, whether the Nets can still trade him, Brooklyn’s books now and moving forward, and much more: theathletic.com/3387211/2022/0… – 11:40 AM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Didn’t expect people angry at/surprised with Kyrie’s decision. This was always and obviously a negotiation tactic and the only thing that gave it real leverage was he is unpredictable.
Irving as a free agent next summer will be interesting. Expect him at his best this season. – 11:38 AM Tas Melas @TasMelas
The fellas talked Kyrie, John Wall, free agency.
Up as a pod soon.
youtube.com/watch?v=vS5WVs… – 11:28 AM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Tuesday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! Drama over! Kyrie finally opts in w/the Nets. What comes next for the Lakers? Plus, Malik Monk says he’s open to taking less to stay in L.A., but is he a good use of TPMLE? #FirstListen @LockedOnNBAPods @LockedOnNetwork
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kyr… – 11:25 AM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
“Trust me, Kyrie had tons of opt-in-and-trade options available to him. Twenty-nine of them, actually. For reals.” – 11:22 AM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Yea, if the Lakers were focused on the prayer that Kyrie was going to take the mid-level so they wouldn’t have to use picks to dump Russ, they’re really dug in on not trading Russ. What a disgrace. pic.twitter.com/WSFgOmWHxR – 11:19 AM Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On Prime: Kyrie Opts-In w/ @Nate Duncan
Get 35% off the monthly price with our Mock Offseason Total Access Sale: https://t.co/n4QLDC9m6F pic.twitter.com/nv2vQorzv1 – 11:15 AM Yaron Weitzman @YaronWeitzman
I love how the word “fulfill” is being used to describe Kyrie’s decision – 11:11 AM Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Very interesting detail here on the Kyrie Irving negotiations from @Shams Charania: Irving offered to take a short-term extension but he wanted a player option and the Nets declined. Brooklyn had made several incentives-based contract offers. More here theathletic.com/3387111/2022/0… – 11:10 AM Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Inside Kyrie Irving’s opt-in commitment for next season and the future in Brooklyn – at @TheAthletic: theathletic.com/3387111/2022/0… – 10:48 AM Mike Mazzeo @MazzNYC
NBA title futures: Morning after Kyrie opt-in, Nets are +700 at DraftKings and FanDuel, +750 at Caesars. At BetMGM Nets are +850 and have 3% of handle. Knicks are between +15000 and +25000 at NY sportsbooks – 10:37 AM Kyrie Irving @KyrieIrving
pic.twitter.com/dhS29y73ls – 10:33 AM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Just got done recording a new episode of @LockedOnHeat exploring the Heat’s options after Kyrie’s decision to opt in. Should be up shortly. – 10:33 AM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Dunc’d On Prime: Kyrie Opts-In w/ @Danny Leroux
Get 35% off the monthly price with our Mock Offseason Total Access Sale: https://t.co/XSgwN6kjka pic.twitter.com/mPDwB76GPr – 9:45 AM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: Nets learned of Kyrie Irving opting in with his public statement nba.nbcsports.com/2022/06/28/rep… – 8:59 AM Chris Sheridan @sheridanhoops
The vitriol being thrown at Kyrie Irving is uncalled for. And the #Nets could still trade him. He remains 90-1 to be MVP. More on this later. – 8:54 AM Greg Dickerson @gregdickerson13
It HAS to be a massive blow to the ego of @Kyrie Irving that no team other than the massively dysfunctional lakers wanted him. Still a great player, but just not worth the hassle – 8:49 AM Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Also yesterday’s Irving news delayed the mailbag dropping. Still time to add/change a question in light of the news: theathletic.com/3382501/2022/0… – 8:29 AM Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Good morning. Just 24 hours ago, the Nets appeared to be on the brink of an exodus by their stars. Now Kyrie Irving will opt into his player option and give Brooklyn another year to make a run at a title. Today’s story: theathletic.com/3387122/2022/0… – 8:28 AM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Are Pat Riley, Heat better off not having to consider Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving? Latest “Ask Ira” at sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… plus more. – 8:07 AM Nick Wright @getnickwright
Here’s the latest @WhatsWrightShow, which was recorded before the Kyrie news, but has some very relevant non-Nets stuff in it as well. sprtspod.fox/Ep33_Nick – 7:22 AM

More on this storyline

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the three other teams that had significant interest in a potential trade for the enigmatic Nets superstar were the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat, and the Philadelphia 76ers: “There were a couple of other teams that were poking around at him in opt-in-and-trade scenarios: Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia,” Shams said on the Pat McAfee Show, via ClutchPoints on Twitter. “But at the end of the day, he made a move where he said, ‘I’m gonna commit. I’m gonna go back to Brooklyn, I’m gonna opt-in.” -via Clutch Points / June 29, 2022 Though Irving and Durant are both under contract — Irving for the upcoming season at $36.5 million, Durant starting a four-year extension — there’s a looming question: Are they unhappy? Because Brooklyn learned the hard way what Boston already knew: An unhappy Irving is a dangerous Irving. “I feel bad for those guys there, that they have to deal with him,” one league source told The Post. -via FOXSports.com / June 29, 2022 From the moment Irving arrived, Brooklyn had acquiesced to every prior demand, from signing DeAndre Jordan to his personal leave to tabling a four-year, $181 million max deal until he refused to get vaccinated. And after telling Irving he couldn’t be a part-time player, they even capitulated on that. “I’m not sure I would’ve handled it that way,” another league source told The Post. “They basically told him they don’t trust him. Which I get: He’s untrustworthy. But telling him he can’t be a part-time player is going to . I wouldn’t sign everybody he wants, but I’d just in public. He needs that.” -via FOXSports.com / June 29, 2022