The Kyrie Irving rumors continue to swirl, especially 'Uncle Drew' reuniting with former Cavaliers teammate LeBron James out in Los Angeles.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported earlier this week that Irving has "become more open" to joining the Lakers in free agency this summer.
"If you had asked me six months ago, I would have had said the door was closed and locked, that was not gonna happen. But over the last few months, there has no doubt been a thawing between Kyrie and LeBron and Kyrie has become to be more open to joining the Lakers and has done some research on the organization."On Thursday Windhorst stuck to his guns during an appearance on the Stephen A. Smith Show and said he expects James will attempt to recruit Irving to L.A.
"I think Kyrie is considering the Lakers," said Windhorst. "I know he's in touch with LeBron and LeBron's gonna make a run to recruit him."Windhorst has been adamant that a Irving and James reunion is not farfetched or out of the question for the past few weeks now. His colleague Stephen A. Smith, however has dismissed those reports and is convinced that Irving, along with Kevin Durant are heading to the Knicks.
Smith went as far as saying he received text messages from those close to Irving's family: "there is no way in hell he's going to L.A." Insisting that the Celtics All-Star and the Warriors' pending free agent are New York bound come July.
You can now add another ESPN writer who disagrees with Windhorst's reports and doesn't believe Irving will reunite with his ex-teammate in Los Angeles; Jackie MacMullan
"I did a little digging around and my feeling is very strongly that while LeBron and Kyrie have kissed and made up, that Kyrie is not going there," MacMullan said on the latest Hoops Collective Podcast. "He's just not. I just don’t believe it. And I think people close to him just don’t believe it either."MacMullan comments echoes those of Stephen A. Smith's when it comes to Irving heading to LA-LA land, despite James liking a photoshopped picture of Irving in a Lakers' uniform on social media and apparently the two former teammates were seen clubbing in Los Angeles last weekend as well.
Irving, who was named to the All-NBA Second Team this week, has a $21.3 million player option that he's expected to opt out of, as he did commit to the Celtics prior to the start of the 2018-19 campaign before all the regular season drama occurred.
Former Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson said this week during his appearance on ESPN's First Take that Irving and Kawhi Leonard would have been his top two free agent priorities if he were still in L.A.'s front office.
"With Magic leaving, that was a guy he felt a connection to," Windhorst added. "And with great opportunities in Brooklyn and in New York, plus Boston trying to keep him, I think the Lakers are lower on his list. But they’re on his list, and that gives them a fighting chance.
"Boston has got to still be worried about the Lakers in the Kyrie pursuit."We still have a way to go before the 'where Irving will be taking his talents to next' rumors end. The NBA announced that free agency will now begin on June 30 and not July 1.
Joel Pavón
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Picture used courtesy of The Inquisitr
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