3 Ambitious sign-and-trade D’Angelo Russell trades Lakers should explore

D-Russ for Kyrie Irving

It’s the worst secret in the world that LeBron James (specifically) wants the Los Angeles Lakers to go out and make a big splash for Kyrie Irving. There’s just one big salary cap problem with that. Even if the Lakers were to clear the deck, minus LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they wouldn’t be able to muster enough cap space to offer Kyrie a max contract offer, which he’ll likely be seeking on the open market.

So unless Kyrie is willing to take a pretty significant pay cut, if he does find his way to the Lakers, it will likely have to be via a sign and trade. Of course, in order for a sign and trade to work, that would mean the Dallas Mavericks would have to be willing to play ball. And there are already whispers that the Mavs aren’t going to help any team with a Kyrie sign and trade.

But maybe the Mavs’ tune changes as we inch closer and closer to free agency and if Kyrie makes it clear that he’s not going to re-sign with the team. AND perhaps if the Lakers are willing to include a future first-round pick, which could help the Mavs ease the gut punch that losing Kyrie less than a year after acquiring him at the NBA Trade Deadline would leave.

The Lakers will almost definitely touch base with the Mavs when free agency opens. The question is, will Dallas budge?