Kyrie Irving, now entering free agency for the first time in his career, has the chance to reunite with LeBron James, but should he do it?
With Pelicans star forward Anthony Davis being shipped to the Lakers, there have been rumblings around the NBA world that Kyrie Irving could find his way to Los Angeles this summer to reunite with LeBron James.
Irving reportedly wanted to be the alpha on his own squad and tensions grew between the pair, leading to a deal that left a sour taste in Cavalier fans around the world. However, two years later and now a few months after Irving admitted he apologized to James for not fully comprehending his leadership tactics, the two have a chance to make basketball amends.
This move would shock basketball fans considering how the championship-winning duo ended things in Cleveland, but from a basketball standpoint, the move would make sense.
The new big three?
It is no secret that James needs a veteran team around him, with one or two stars that can score at will and the rest of the roster comprised of reliable shooters and defenders. What hurt the Lakers the most last season was not having a reliable second and third scoring option to take some pressure off of James. The addition of Davis gives Los Angeles a solidified low-post star, but after moving Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart the Lakers need to address their backcourt, and they can do so with Irving.
Irving brings the Lakers everything they need in a player to help them gun for a ring, as general manager Rob Pelinka is clearly operating within a championship window. He can shoulder the offensive load when James takes a seat, he’s one of the best ball handlers in the league and his passing vision has improved each year in the league as he finished with 6.9 assists per game last season with Boston.
Most importantly, however, he has playoff experience and a championship pedigree. In four postseason trips in his career, Irving has averaged 23.5 points and five assists while shooting 45 percent from the field. Uncle Drew has also proven that he can take over in big games, which is evident during game seven of the 2016 Finals when he hit the three that lifted the Cavs to its first championship in franchise history.
The Lakers gutted their depth and their future in the Davis trade in order to contend for a championship this season. With a star-studded free agent class highlighted by the likes of Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, Kemba Walker, and Irving, Los Angeles will have options.
However, if Irving and James can make amends, basketball fans already know how deadly they can be together, and to pair them with arguably the top power forward in the NBA will make for a monstrous big three.
