Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving sent the interwebs into a frenzy this week, acting out a scene in which he was traded to Los Angeles Lakers on Kai Cenat’s highly popular stream. Irving could’ve just been engaging in hi-jinx as Cenat’s encouragement. Yet, even without The Undertaker-themed music in the background, there was a certain seriousness to it.
Is Mavs’ Kyrie Irving Still In Lakers’ Cards?
“Alright, so what’s the next move? I’m leaving?,” Irving begins. “It’s gonna be Los Angeles? I understand.”
Kyrie Irving shows off his acting skills and acts out a fake phone call from his agent telling him he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers 😭 pic.twitter.com/BXovI5x4vd
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) November 29, 2024
“How much they paying? That number’s not right. It’s L.A., what you talking about?… So you telling me [it’s] not guaranteed? You know my body though. You know my resume…”
Irving’s impromptu acting session was illuminating, not just entertaining. As a player who has been traded twice, it’s possible that he’s speaking from experience. Him deciding to enact a scenario in which he’s offered a contract that’s non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed is also thought-provoking. Though his reputation around the league is generally positive, he isn’t too far removed from facing intense scrutiny and vehement criticism.
In the big picture, the question is whether there really is a chance he gets traded. If so, would the Lakers be on the other end of the call?
Why Would The Mavs Trade Him?
Irving is considered a locker room leader in Dallas, not just an elite player. With how well his Mavs tenure has gone on and off the court, it’s difficult to envision him being traded in the near future. However, while Irving has made the team stronger —in fact, Dallas reached the NBA Finals this summer —it’s not all peaches and cream in the Lone Star State.
The primary issue with Irving is, in terms of their defense, he and Luka Doncic aren’t an ideal fit. Irving and, to some extent, Doncic have improved their effort at that end. Nonetheless, neither are reliable on-ball or off-ball. Similar to the Atlanta Hawks with Trae Young or the Milwaukee Bucks with Damian Lillard, the Mavs may need to put an elite defender beside Doncic.
Are The Lakers A Realistic Option?
If Dallas wanted to pair Doncic with a backcourt player that’s a consistent difference-maker on defense, L.A. has a couple, as Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent both meet the criteria. Reddish is superior to Vincent, in terms of his athleticism and activity. The problem is that neither are particularly reliable on offense.
Still, if Irving is traded, the Mavs could promote Quentin Grimes. A 3-and-D wing coached by Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson and New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, his skillset complements Doncic’s. This season, he’s averaging 12.8 points per game on 42.3 percent shooting from three as a starter.
What Irving provides as a scorer will need to be replaced though. Both Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy would likely step up after his departure. Still, Los Angeles seemingly has to come with a better offer than D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura to really move the needle. To that point, Irving might just be talented enough to make them finally budge on trading Austin Reaves.
As LeBron James has shown, he can’t be the team’s only reliable on-ball scorer on the perimeter.
