The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are actively engaged in discussions about a trade package that would send star point guard Russell Westbrook to Brooklyn in exchange for star point guard Kyrie Irving, league sources told Yahoo Sports. There is palpable optimism that a deal can be reached between the two sides this offseason, but some hurdles remain, sources said. However, while Los Angeles-based Haynes wrote that there is “palpable optimism,” he also cited Nets sources as saying the talks “were only preliminary.” Alex Schiffer of The Athletic told ESPN Radio that he was told the report is not accurate. Schieffer also tweeted how trying to run an offense through two non-shooting guards like Westbrook and Ben Simmons would never work. The guy on the right is why a deal for the guy on the left doesn’t make sense. An offensive genius like Mike D’Antoni couldn’t design an offense around two non-shooting point guards like these two. https://t.co/c8Zt7lyURy — Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) July 3, 2022 The report also contradicts various other reports that the Nets will not move forward with Irving trade scenarios until the Kevin Durant trade is settled. This is the second time in two days that a deal centered around seven-time All-Star Irving and nine-time All-Star Westbrook has been discussed online. On Friday morning, Legion Hoops reported that there were discussions between the two teams… SOURCE: Lakers are aggressively working on a deal for Kyrie Irving – their current offering is Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker and their 1st-round pick in 2027. Joe Harris could head to Los Angeles in deal . pic.twitter.com/oRAjIPMj3f — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 1, 2022 Haynes said sticking points include the scope of the plan’s compensation and whether to include Harris, who is set to make $38 million over the next two years. The Lakers are not inclined to include Harris and are instead looking to bring in shooting guard Seth Curry as part of the deal, sources said. Curry is on an $8.5 million expiring deal. Curry and Harris rank third and fourth respectively in all-time 3-point field goal percentage. Westbrook will make $47.1 million this season in the final year of his five-year deal, $205 million of which he signed while with the Thunder in 2017. That’s $10+ million more than Irving who picked up his $36.9 million player option this week. According to other reports, the Nets are willing to deal Irving to Los Angeles — his preferred landing spot — as long as he doesn’t add to Brooklyn’s financial commitments next season. A deal that included Harris would reduce the Nets’ payroll by about $8 million. Of course, including Harris, the fan favorite and longest-tenured player in black and white, could indicate the Nets are in deep rebuilding, cutting payroll — and luxury taxes — while increasing their stockpile of draft picks. . One counter to that scenario, however, is that the Nets added $9.2 million to their payroll Thursday when they traded a first-round pick to Utah for Royce O’Neale using their big trade exception. Haynes said nothing is imminent. The Nets are not expected to rush into a deal and will continue to discuss the complexities of an Irving-Westbrook trade with the Lakers. John Hollinger also brought up the Lakers as a final destination and laid out a different scenario. [O]The outcome doesn’t seem much more likely than the rest (to the Lakers for Russell Westbrook and picks, maybe with Joe Harris and Kendrick Nunn even earning the salary) … the Nets will have the incoming return from a deal of Irving in the back of their minds as they plan Durant trades. Meanwhile, Shams Charania told Bally Sports that Irving has “several suitors,” citing the Lakers, Mavericks and even the 76ers. “I would watch Kyrie Irving the next couple of weeks as well as probably a guy who could potentially be moved,” Shams said. “There are a lot of teams trying to get Kyrie Irving as well (as well as Durant).”
