The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> don’t need to make a lot of moves to be better. They were the second-best team in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> after the deadline, and they still have <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James.</a>



James might not be able to lead the same way he used to, especially entering his 21st season in the league. However, they’ve done a solid job of surrounding him with the kind of talent he needs to thrive.



With that in mind, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report believes they could turn to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/brooklyn-nets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> to add more depth to the forward spots, trading Mo Bamba for Royce O’Neal.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Lakers Could Trade Mo Bamba For Royce O’Neal</h2>



“The Nets are suddenly loaded with wings but thin in the frontcourt,” wrote Swartz. “The Lakers could use another three-and-D perimeter option and have a big to spare. A swap to satisfy both needs makes sense.”



“Brooklyn gets Bamba, a mobile 7-footer who can start at power forward or play either post position off the bench,” continued the report. “The 25-year-old knocked down 38.7 percent of his threes last season and has proved to be an effective shot-blocker.”



“O’Neale fits nicely into a starting lineup featuring LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves with his defensive versatility and floor spacing. He’s as consistent as they come from the outside, shooting between 38.5 percent and 38.9 percent from three in each of the past three seasons,” Swartz concluded.



The Nets are going through a rebuild right now, but they’re expected to be quite active in the offseason to try and maximize their assets, as they have no incentive to tank, considering the Houston Rockets hold the rights to swap picks with them.



This trade would allow the Nets to stay young and get some depth behind Nic Claxton, and the Lakers would add another win-now piece and insurance policy at both forward spots, so it’s a win-win situation for both teams.

NBA Rumors: Lakers could swap role player with Nets

NBA Rumors: Lakers could swap role player with Nets - Bolavip US

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It’s widely known that LeBron James and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kyrie-irving" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> want to team up and dominate the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a> again. But, given the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers’ </a>salary cap situation, that’s easier said than done.



The Lakers unsuccessfully tried to trade for him last season, but Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai wasn’t going to grant him his wish. Instead, he sent him to the Dallas Mavericks.



Now, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Irving has reached out to James to wonder whether he’s willing to join him and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/luka-doncic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luka Doncic</a> and play for Jason Kidd next season.



<h2>Kyrie Irving Wants LeBron James To Join Him In Dallas</h2>



“Sources: Kyrie Irving has reached out to Lakers star LeBron James in attempts to see if James would come to Dallas. Irving is a free agent this offseason,” Charania reported.



Still, this just doesn’t seem realistic. His family is in Los Angeles, Bronny committed to USC, and his business headquarters are also based in California. Also, why would the Lakers trade him unless they get Doncic in return?



<h2>Lakers Could Still Pursue Irving</h2>



Even so, there’s still a chance the Lakers could make a run at Irving, as Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reported that there’s no true to the rumors of him already having a handshake agreement in place with the Mavs:



“Kyrie Irving was at Crypto Arena – and if you’re D’Angelo Russell getting ready to play a game, that had to be something to look over and see Kyrie there while Kyrie and LeBron are doing their handshakes – and some wondered if this was a leverage play to get the Lakers to make a move to get Irving,” Scotto wrote.



“I’ve heard there’s no truth to any reports that Irving has a handshake deal with Dallas on a new max contract for four years with a player option at this time,” the report added. “Not to say he won’t be back in Dallas. They certainly have all the motivation to keep him after trading for him and the financial resources to make him the best offer possible, but nothing’s done as of yet.”



Unless he takes a significant pay cut, the Lakers will need help from the Mavs to get a deal done with Irving, and neither option seems realistic right now. But we’ve seen crazier things happen.

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving could team up, but not with the Lakers

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving could team up, but not with the Lakers - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>will have a tough time finding a suitable replacement for D’Angelo Russell. The former <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/brooklyn-nets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets </a>star struggled in the playoffs — again — but there aren’t that many options available at a reasonable price in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA.</a>



Russell is an unrestricted free agent and, as such, could sign with any team of his choosing. Nonetheless, there might not be a big market for his services at this moment.



So, even though there are reports of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> not being sold on Russell, Jovan Buha of The Athletic claims that there’s still a chance the Lakers could look to keep him, although he would have to take less money.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Lakers Could Keep D’Angelo Russell If He Takes A Discount</h2>



“Where is the team that’s going to swoop in and compete with the Lakers’ offer? I think Los Angeles can squeeze Russell closer to the $18 million to $20 million range annually,“ Buha wrote.



“Every dollar is going to matter with the new CBA increasing the penalties for teams that exceed the luxury tax. The difference between Russell at $18 million and Russell at $25 million annually could be consequential,” continued Buha. “If Russell performed better in the postseason, this would be a different conversation. But on multiple nights, he was the Lakers’ fifth- or sixth-best player behind James, Davis, Reaves, Hachimura and sometimes even Schröder. It’s hard to justify paying him anything over $20 million annually.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/theres-a-chance-lebron-james-wont-be-with-the-lakers-next-season-20230601-BUS-5417.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230601_BUS_5417_lebron-james.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even though they still expect him to be back and are planning accordingly, there&apos;s a slim chance LeBron James won&apos;t wear purple and gold next season.
" title="There&apos;s a chance LeBron James won&apos;t be with the Lakers next season" publication_id="BUS#20230601#BUS#5417"></div>


The Lakers need a third scoring option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They need someone they can trust when the game is on the line, someone durable, and a bonafide playoff performer.



Russell might not be any of those things at this point in his career, but keeping him on a team-friendly deal might help the team finding the guy they need with the remaining money.

Lakers could keep D'Angelo Russell under one condition

Lakers could keep D'Angelo Russell under one condition - Bolavip US

The<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers</a> may have found a gem in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/austin-reaves" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Austin Reaves</a>. Hillbilly Kobe has become a fan favorite and played his way up Darvin Ham’s rotation, even becoming a starter in the final stretch of the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a> season.



Reaves is a high-energy guy, either starting or coming off the bench. He showed the utmost confidence and even had some massive games in the playoffs, becoming an integral part of the team.



Of course, he also played himself into a big contract, and multiple teams will look to pry him away from <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and Anthony Davis. Here, we take a look at some of those teams.



<h2>NBA Rumors: 3 Teams For Austin Reaves</h2>



<h2>3. Houston Rockets</h2>



The Houston Rockets don’t want to be bottom-feeders for much longer. They hired Ime Udoka to go back to their winning ways, and they might even make a run at James Harden.



With that in mind, they’ll look to be big spenders in the summer, and the word around the league is that they could look to sign Reaves to a very lucrative five-year deal.



<h2>2. San Antonio Spurs</h2>



Likewise, the San Antonio Spurs have more than enough cash to spare in free agency, and they’re looking to build a young, contending team, so he definitely fits that mold.



Gregg Popovich will build his team around Victor Wembanyama, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, and Reaves is the kind of grit-and-grind, high-energy guy he’d love to coach.



<h2>1. Los Angeles Lakers</h2>



The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly ready to match offers up to $100 million for Austin Reaves. They know they can’t make the same mistake they did with Alex Caruso.



Of course, they’d love to keep him around at the projected $54 million contract he was due to get. But now that other teams are also keeping tabs on him, they’ll likely have to pay up.

NBA Rumors: Potential destinations for Austin Reaves

NBA Rumors: Potential destinations for Austin Reaves - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> will explore every single avenue to improve their roster ahead of the upcoming <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> season. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> put them under plenty of pressure with his comments on retirement, and everybody knows it.



So, we can expect Rob Pelinka to be quite aggressive in his pursuit of more talent and All-Star caliber players in the offseason. And with Kyrie Irving likely going back to Dallas, he’ll have to look somewhere else.



With that in mind, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report believes the Lakers could finally get <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Trade-Rumors-3-potential-destinations-for-DeMar-DeRozan-20221215-0008.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DeMar DeRozan</a> in return for D’Angelo Russell (sign-and-trade), Mo Bamba, Max Christie, and their 2029 unprotected first-round pick.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Lakers Could Get DeMar DeRozan In Blockbuster Trade</h2>



“Point guard is still an issue with Lonzo Ball projected to miss most, if not all, of next season following a third knee surgery,” explained Swartz. “After a disappointing playoff showing, Chicago should be able to acquire Russell as a reasonable contract number to be their new starting floor general. While he’s not a true pass-first guard, the combination of Russell, Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso should be enough ball-handlers to navigate through a season.”



“Bamba gives the team insurance in the frontcourt if Nikoka Vucevic leaves in free agency, and Christie shot 41.9 percent from three as a rookie and doesn’t turn 21 until February. Getting the Lakers’ unprotected first-round pick in 2029 could prove to be a valuable selection or future trade asset as well,” Swartz continued. “DeRozan gives the Lakers a third All-Star to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, putting Los Angeles back into true championship contention.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/gilbert-arenas-reveals-incident-with-lebron-james-made-him-train-with-black-ops-20230602-BUS-5782.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230602_BUS_5782_gilbert-arenas.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even though he was a superstar at the time, Gilbert Arenas let LeBron James break him mentally, which is why he needed to toughen up to come back.
" title="Gilbert Arenas reveals incident with LeBron James made him train with Black Ops" publication_id="BUS#20230602#BUS#5782"></div>


Of course, this is just a mock trade and it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll go down. Then again, it makes sense for both parties, as DeRozan would finally get to play for his hometown team and pursue a ring, while the Bulls finally kickstart their long-overdue rebuild.

NBA Rumors: Lakers could trade for DeMar DeRozan

NBA Rumors: Lakers could trade for DeMar DeRozan - Bolavip US

In February, no one could have imagined the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> making the Western Conference Finals. However, Rob Pelinka did a fantastic work <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Lakers-new-roster-after-trade-deadline-Projected-starting-lineup-for-2022-23-NBA-season-20230209-0030.html">at the trade deadline</a>, reshaping the roster to save the season.



The purple and gold avoided the Play-In, taking down the Grizzlies and then the reigning champs Warriors before being swept by Nikola Jokic’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Nuggets</a>. Of course, it was a heartbreaking ending to their championship hopes, but if you look at the bigger picture, it was not a bad year at all.



That being said, a successful franchise like the Lakers will never settle for a deep playoff run. The goal is to add the banner No. 18 to the rafters, which is why the front office wouldn’t mind letting two players leave this offseason.



<h2>Rumor: Lakers won’t re-sign Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba</h2>



According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers are not planning to bring back Mo Bamba and Malik Beasley next season. Both of them arrived as part of the February overhaul, but never had a major role in the rotation.



“The two players it’s appearing won’t be back are Mo Bamba and Malik Beasley, if only because of their contracts. With the aforementioned six names [LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Max Christie] expected to return, the Lakers would be at around $120 million to $125 million — depending on the salary of Hachimura — in salary before factoring in cap holds or empty roster charges. Add Bamba’s $10.3 million non-guaranteed salary and Beasley’s $16.5 million team option, and they’re pushing $150-plus million with just eight players — and that’s before including free agents like Russell, Schröder or Walker.”



The Lakers have other priorities this offseason, starting with James or <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-could-lose-a-key-player-this-summer-20230602-BUS-5760.html">Reaves</a>. Neither Bamba nor Beasley played an important role during the playoffs, so parting with them wouldn’t be so painful for the Lakers.

NBA Rumors: Lakers may not bring back two players next season

NBA Rumors: Lakers may not bring back two players next season - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> put together a very competitive squad after the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> trade deadline. But even before<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> LeBron James</a> got a new supporting cast, Austin Reaves had already worked his way up the rotation.



‘Hillbilly Kobe’ became a fan favorite for his timely buckets and unmatched confidence and energy. He played his way into Darvin Ham’s starting lineup and was a huge factor in the postseason.



That’s why the Lakers will try and do whatever they can to retain him with a long-term deal. However, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Antonio Spurs</a> could join the race to win his sweepstakes.



<h2>Spurs Could Pry Austin Reaves Away From The Lakers</h2>



“I think the Lakers are going to retain him,” Buha reported. “Obviously, their preference would be to sign him to the four-year, $54 million deal. I’ve heard that there are going to be multiple suitors out there in talking with people around the league. You mentioned Orlando and Houston. I’ve heard San Antonio could be a dark horse team that will try to poach Austin from the Lakers.”



“The Lakers are going to match any contract offer sheet that he signs up to that $100 million,” continued Buha. “The Lakers view him as the third-best player on this team if you look at the regular season and postseason he had. He stepped up big time and was basically an 18-5-5 guy with near 50-40-90 shooting splits as a starter for them. There were several factors as to why the Lakers made that second-half run, but chief among them — and maybe the biggest factor overall — was Reaves’ ascension.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-get-positive-news-about-kyrie-irvings-free-agency-20230602-BUS-5705.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230602_BUS_5705_kyrie-irving.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Following an initial discouraging report, it seems like the Los Angeles Lakers might have a shot at signing Kyrie Irving after all.
" title="Lakers get positive news about Kyrie Irving&apos;s free agency" publication_id="BUS#20230602#BUS#5705"></div>

Lakers could lose a key player this summer

Lakers could lose a key player this summer - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have been after Kyrie Irving for quite a while now. And watching him sit courtside in Game 4 vs. the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a> only fueled more speculation around <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>circles.



Darvin Ham benched D’Angelo Russell, and it became painfully evident that the team could use an upgrade at the point guard position. And some believe LeBron James’ comments about retiring are just a power move to get him.



Moreover, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that there’s no truth to the reports of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kyrie-irving" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie </a>having a handshake agreement in place with the Dallas Mavericks, so the Lakers still have a shot at signing him.



<h2>Kyrie Irving Doesn’t Have An Agreement With The Dallas Mavericks</h2>



“Kyrie Irving was at Crypto Arena – and if you’re D’Angelo Russell getting ready to play a game, that had to be something to look over and see Kyrie there while Kyrie and LeBron are doing their handshakes – and some wondered if this was a leverage play to get the Lakers to make a move to get Irving,” Scotto wrote.



“I’ve heard there’s no truth to any reports that Irving has a handshake deal with Dallas on a new max contract for four years with a player option at this time,” the report added. “Not to say he won’t be back in Dallas. They certainly have all the motivation to keep him after trading for him and the financial resources to make him the best offer possible, but nothing’s done as of yet.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-has-made-a-decision-about-kyrie-irving-and-the-lakers-20230530-BUS-4971.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230530_BUS_4971_lebron-james-9.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="LeBron James has let the Los Angeles Lakers know his feelings and thoughts about replacing D&apos;Angelo Russell with Kyrie Irving.
" title="LeBron James has made a decision about Kyrie Irving and the Lakers" publication_id="BUS#20230530#BUS#4971"></div>


LeBron James made it loud and clear that he wanted to be reunited with Kyrie, publically stating that he was disappointed that the team couldn’t get him before the trade deadline.



They already know what it takes to thrive next to each other, and while bringing him in could cost the Lakers some depth, the team is likely to do whatever it takes to keep James happy for the remainder of his contract.

Lakers get positive news about Kyrie Irving's free agency

Lakers get positive news about Kyrie Irving's free agency - Bolavip US

All things considered, this was a somewhat successful season for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers. </a>They went from bottom-feeders to contending for an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship, and they finally gave<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> LeBron James</a> a supporting cast who was actually supportive.



But the purple and gold don’t play for playoff exits, and neither does LeBron. Being swept was a major blow for the 38-year-old veteran, who even hinted at retiring.



And even though most people think he’s<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/the-obvious-major-reason-why-lebron-james-wont-retire-yet-20230524-BUS-3481.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> just bluffing</a> or trying to change the narrative, a Lakers insider reported that there’s a slim chance that he won’t be a part of the team next season.



<h2>Report: 10% Chance LeBron James Won’t Be A Laker Next Season</h2>



(Transcript via Jovan Buha — The Athletic) “Based on conversations I’ve had over the past week or so, I’d say there’s about a 10 percent chance LeBron James isn’t back as a Laker next season, either due to retirement or playing for another team. Everyone with and around the team I’ve spoken to believes he’s returning.



James’ recent Instagram story, in which he stated, ‘I’m suppose to be #1 on everybody list/We’ll see what happens when I no longer exist,’ referencing lyrics from Jay-Z’s ‘What More Can I Say,’ was intriguing. Remember: Jay-Z announced he was retiring, only to return a few years later and make multiple albums since then. Could James be hinting he needs a break? Maybe a year away from the game, only to return to play alongside his son, Bronny, in 2024-25? That could be the case.



But the assumption remains that James will return. The Lakers are approaching this offseason as if he’ll be a part of the 2023-24 squad.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/gilbert-arenas-makes-shocking-prediction-about-lebron-james-successor-20230531-BUS-5232.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230531_BUS_5232_gilbert-arenas.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even though he&apos;s gotten into way too many problems already, Gilbert Arenas believes a young star can dethrone LeBron James as the new face of the NBA.
" title="Gilbert Arenas makes shocking prediction about LeBron James&apos; successor" publication_id="BUS#20230531#BUS#5232"></div>

 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="" image="" excerpt="" title="" publication_id=""></div>


James still has two years left in his contract and $100 million on the table, so most people think he’s not walking away; he’s just exhausted, and rightly so. But we’ve seen crazier things happen, so only time will tell what happens.

There's a chance LeBron James won't be with the Lakers next season

There's a chance LeBron James won't be with the Lakers next season - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> will reportedly be on the market for a new point guard. The D’Angelo Russell experiment didn’t work out in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> playoffs, and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> isn’t so high on him, according to the latest reports.



There’s a shortage of star-caliber players in this year’s free agency, and the Lakers don’t have that much cap space to make a run at a superstar anyways. Obviously, that severely hampers their ability to make a run at a big-name player.



That, plus the fact that both parties reportedly shook hands on a contract extension months ago, makes it nearly impossible for them to lure <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kyrie-irving" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> away from the Dallas Mavericks.



<h2>Kyrie Irving Already Has An Agreement With The Mavs</h2>



(Transcript via Eric Pinus – Bleacher Report)



“‘I hear they had a handshake deal before the trade [with the Brooklyn Nets],’ one source said. “And Kyrie wouldn’t have said yes to anything less than the max.’



Is Irving worth that price?



‘Maybe to Dallas, he is. I’m not sure what the market is for Kyrie, but no one with cap room is giving it to Kyrie. He comes with too much drama,’ another source said.



Assuming a $134 million salary cap, Irving would be eligible to re-sign with the Mavericks for a five-year, $272 million contract.



‘I hear he’s going back to Dallas on a 3+1 [a player option on the fourth year]. His contract will line up [identically] with Luka’s.’ one player agent said—which would total $210.1 million.”



For now, it seems like the Mavericks are fully invested in this experiment, even though the early returns indicated that it could be a disaster for the next couple of years.



Russell isn’t likely to be back in Los Angeles, regardless of what happens with Kyrie. So, the Lakers might have to dig deep into the market to find their new playmaker.

Kyrie Irving won't join LeBron and the Lakers for a key reason

Kyrie Irving won't join LeBron and the Lakers for a key reason - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Laker</a>s fell short of their goal. Despite being one of the best teams in the second half of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> season, Anthony Davis’ offensive shortcomings, LeBron James’ age, and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets’</a> great play sent them back home.



Notably, the team isn’t too far off from being a legit NBA championship contender. But it’s evident that they badly need an upgrade at the point guard position.



And with all then rumors about<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> LeBron James</a> not being much of a fan of D’Angelo Russell, a report by Heavy Sports recently confirmed that he’s pushing for his team to replace him with Kyrie Irving.



<h2>LeBron James Wants The Lakers To Replace D’Angelo Russell With Kyrie Irving</h2>



However, the report also states that the Dallas Mavericks have no interest or incentive whatsoever in helping Kyrie or the Lakers with a sign-and-trade unless Austin Reaves and/or Anthony Davis become available:



(Transcript via Heavy)



“‘While we await a clear indication about the Lakers’ intentions [regarding free agency], with no verifiable signal to date that pursuing Irving is among their offseason priorities, league sources say that the Mavericks would have no interest in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers that features D’Angelo Russell as the primary Dallas-bound player,‘ [Marc] Stein wrote. ‘All indications are that the Mavericks remain intent on re-signing Irving.



LeBron James wants the Lakers to replace Russell with Irving, sources told Heavy Sports. However, Los Angeles doesn’t have the cap space to sign Irving, who is looking for a max contract.”


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" title="LeBron James doesn&apos;t want a Lakers player back next season" publication_id="BUS#20230525#BUS#3755"></div>


Truth be told, it doesn’t seem like the Lakers can pull this off unless Kyrie somehow accepts to take a massive paycut, so Rob Pelinka might have to look somewhere else for his new point guard, as Russell simply isn’t likely to be a part of the team going forward.

LeBron James has made a decision about Kyrie Irving and the Lakers

LeBron James has made a decision about Kyrie Irving and the Lakers - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have made a significant improvement this season. The trade deadline was a huge turning point for a team that went from being out of Play-In spots to making the Conference Finals.



However, the purple and gold were unable to compete against Nikola Jokic and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a>, who swept them to punch a ticket to the next round. Now, it’s time for Rob Pelinka to do whatever it takes to make this team even better.



One of the biggest storylines heading into the offseason is the potential pursuit of a new point guard, considering D’Angelo Russell‘s decline in the playoffs. Unfortunately, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> and company may have to cross a name off their list.



<h2>Rumor: Mavs may not be interested in deal that sends Kyrie Irving to LA</h2>



According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks have no interest in a sign-and-trade deal involving Russell and Kyrie Irving, since they’d want to bring the latter back next season:



“A popular topic all week, in the wake of Denver sweeping the Lakers out of the Western Conference finals, was the notion that L.A. could emerge as a potential sign-and-trade destination for Dallas’ free agent-to-be Kyrie Irving.



While we await a clear indication about the Lakers’ intentions there, with no verifiable signal to date that pursuing Irving is among their offseason priorities, league sources say that the Mavericks would have no interest in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers that features D’Angelo Russell as the primary Dallas-bound player. All indications are that the Mavericks remain intent on re-signing Irving.”



Irving has been in Dallas for just a few months, so even if it didn’t go according to plan so far, it makes sense the team wants to run things back. Therefore, the Lakers may have to explore alternatives.

NBA Rumors: LeBron James, Lakers could receive bad news soon

NBA Rumors: LeBron James, Lakers could receive bad news soon - Bolavip US

<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-might-need-surgery-how-long-would-lakers-star-be-out-20230526-BUS-4249.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230526_BUS_4249_LeBron-James-6-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="LeBron James had an impressive postseason despite playing through a foot injury, but he might need to get surgery to repair it. Here’s the potential timeline for the star of the Los Angeles Lakers.
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The teams playing in the NBA Finals haven’t been confirmed yet. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/have-the-denver-nuggets-ever-been-to-the-nba-finals-20230521-BUS-2811.html">Denver Nuggets</a> are waiting for the winner of the Eastern Conference. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/when-was-the-last-time-miami-heat-won-a-championship-20230524-BUS-3412.html">Miami Heat</a> started 3-0, but the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/when-was-the-last-time-the-boston-celtics-won-a-championship-20230523-BUS-3337.html">Boston Celtics</a> closed the gap to 3-2. However, there is another topic that focused a ton of headlines.



This was the report made by NBA insider Marc Stein indicating that Eric Lewis is being investigated by the league. The reason behind that process is that the referee allegedly ran a Twitter account to defend several calls.


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The situation gained popularity especially after some users took screenshots of all the replies made by the account @CuttliffBlair before it was deleted. It got so out of control that even <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> had something to say with a very brief post.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">NBA ref Eric Lewis has been outed as having a burner account (<a href="https://twitter.com/CuttliffBlair?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CuttliffBlair</a>). Lmaooo this is a momentous day. The account will surely be deleted soon so for the archives, the entirety of the account’s replies. All involving… yep, Eric Lewis. 😂 (h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/Mikey_Wyllin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mikey_Wyllin</a>) thread 🧵⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/6GTvURouOc">pic.twitter.com/6GTvURouOc</a>— Pablo Escobarner (blue check) (@PabloEscoburner) <a href="https://twitter.com/PabloEscoburner/status/1661759530462507009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>LeBron James’ tweet on the Eric Lewis controversy</h2>



James has already been involved with this particular referee earlier in the season. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> lost to the Celtics in a close game largely for a late no-call on a foul against the King. This prompted the anger of the fans, while also noticing that Lewis’ family have been seen supporting Boston before.



The supposedly burner account claimed it was the referee’s brother the person sending the tweets. “This is MARK Lewis. Right family (older brother). I’m sorry that I put E, in this situation, but this ain’t Watergate. You’re right, the account WILL be coming down. Twitter should not be this vindictive. Sorry to inconvenience you” was the answer to the used that posted the screenshots.



In all this controversy there was one opinion missing, although it was just a couple of words. “This Eric Lewis [poop emoji] true?”, LeBron tweeted on Saturday afternoon. It’s such a strange situation that even James seems to be surprised. There is still no definition from the league, but it would be a huge case if it’s confirmed.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This Eric Lewis 💩 true??? 🤨— LeBron James (@KingJames) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1662532601712889856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>

LeBron James reacts to the reported Eric Lewis investigation

LeBron James might need surgery: How long would Lakers' star be out?

NBA admits wrong call by officials could have cost series to LeBron James and Lakers

LeBron James reacts to the reported Eric Lewis investigation - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have gone way further than predicted, if we consider the position they were in before the trade deadline. But Rob Pelinka made the right adjustments on time to significantly improve the team’s position.



In the end, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a> were too much for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> and company, but they still managed to turn the season around. From not even appearing in Play-In spots to making the Conference Finals is a remarkable improvement.



However, the purple and gold are a successful franchise, which is why everything they’ll do from now on will be to try and get back to glory days. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, they won’t offer D’Angelo Russell the two-year, max extension he’s eligible for.



<h2>Rumor: Lakers won’t offer Russell two-year max extension</h2>



“Russell is eligible to sign a two-year, $67.5 million extension by June 30, which the Lakers will not pursue at the max number, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN,” McMenamin wrote.



… Beyond James’ retirement decision — which could be a nonissue, with a source close to James telling ESPN on Thursday that he believes the Lakers star will indeed be back for season No. 21 and fulfill his contract — the biggest question facing the Lakers this offseason is figuring out what to do at point guard.“



<h2>D’Angelo Russell wants to stay in LA</h2>



Russell may explore his options in the open market, but he already said he would love to continue in LA next season. It’s unclear whether the team plans to move on, but the guard is happy with the Lakers:



“As far as the future goes, I have no idea,” Russell said, via LakersNation. “I think when you put a group out there that knows the game and everybody wants the same goal I think you’ll have some success. But at some point, you’ll see you need that 50 games, you need that training camp, you need that offseason to kind of get over the hump and we didn’t have that. We made it to the Western Conference Finals, so I think the future’s bright. I think Rob Pelinka has some decisions to make, but that’s what his job is not mine. So would love to be here and be able to attend to it and contribute to that so we’ll see.”



Russell has been a key contributor for the Lakers in the second half of the season, playing a pivotal role in their run to the playoffs. However, he couldn’t deliver when the stakes were high, so his future with the team looks up in the air.

NBA Rumors: Lakers may have made a decision on D'Angelo Russell

NBA Rumors: Lakers may have made a decision on D'Angelo Russell - Bolavip US

The Denver Nuggets are in the 2023 NBA Finals after eliminating the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a>. However, according to head coach Michael Malone, they still don’t get the credit deserved.



The Nuggets were the best team in the Western Conference following a 53-29 record. In the playoffs, Denver dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves and then took a care of a supposed superstar team like the Phoenix Suns which included Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Devin Booker.


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In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> were no match. A 4-0 sweep for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nikola-jokic">Nikola Jokic</a> and company. However, Michael Malone has had enough of the narrative.



<h2>Mike Malone sends epic message to LeBron James and Lakers</h2>



Right now, the Denver Nuggets are resting and preparing to face either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals which start next Thursday. Nevertheless, according to Mike Malone, the narrative just doesn’t change. 


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“Well, if anybody is still talking about the Lakers in the NBA Finals, that’s on them. I mean, they’ve gone fishing and we are still playing. The narrative should be on whatever two teams are still alive. Let’s salute and appreciate the greatness of each and everyone of those players on the court.”


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During the entire Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets’ head coach criticized the media for only talking about the Lakers. He’s going at it again. “To get to that point is historical for us. It’s the first time in franchise history that the Denver Nuggets have made the NBA Finals and we’re not satisfied with that. I just hope that the narrative is on the two teams that are representing their conferences. Let’s get all the negativity out of the way.”

Mike Malone slams LeBron James and Lakers prior to 2023 NBA Finals

LeBron James profile: Age, height, weight, wife, rings and net worth

LeBron James receives incredible message from Lakers about NBA retirement

Mike Malone slams LeBron James and Lakers prior to 2023 NBA Finals - Bolavip US

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