Los Angeles Lakers: 5 max players to target in free agency
By Ben Bundy
2. Kyrie Irving
Much like Russell, this is another player fans of the NBA might find interesting when it comes to joining Los Angeles. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James had great success with one another already, which shows that the two together can make for a winning combination. However, the two didn’t quite get along at the end of their run with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The risk of adding Irving to a team with James again is obvious, but so is the potential reward. Which is why the Lakers should try to bring Irving to Los Angeles. Adding him to a team that already has both James and Davis should make it clear that Irving isn’t the main piece, which is what he wanted in Cleveland. Also, his less than successful run with the Boston Celtics might have him wanting to be a second or third option again.
On the court, there aren’t many point guard better than Irving. He averaged 23.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. He would give the Lakers the star point guard they need and would give the team a legitimate “Big 3” that could dominate the league next season. Along with that, Irving knows exactly what it takes to win a title.
If the Lakers are willing to risk adding Irving to the team it could be the difference in winning a championship or falling apart. Los Angeles just has to decide if Irving’s off the court issues are more important than his clear basketball ability.