The Los Angeles Lakers are in a much stronger position at point guard than they were this time last year-and that’s putting it mildly.
After moving D’Angelo Russell to Brooklyn, the Lakers were left without a true floor general. That hole didn’t stay open long.
In a bold move, the front office swung a deal for Luka Doncic, the former Dallas Mavericks superstar and one of the most gifted offensive players in the game today. That trade gave L.A. a new engine for its offense, and Doncic has been everything the Lakers hoped for-crafty, composed, and a walking triple-double threat.
But even with Doncic in the fold, there’s still room for another high-level perimeter piece. And the Lakers might be eyeing a reunion that would shake up the Western Conference all over again.
According to a recent trade scenario floated by Athlon Sports, the Lakers could be in the mix for Kyrie Irving-a move that would reunite him not only with LeBron James, but also with Doncic, his former backcourt partner in Dallas.
Irving’s future with the Mavericks remains uncertain. While Dallas reportedly has interest in keeping him if they pivot to a rebuild, his name continues to surface in trade discussions as the deadline approaches. And with L.A. always in win-now mode, especially with LeBron still playing at a high level, the idea of adding another proven playoff performer like Irving is hard to ignore.
The proposed deal? The Lakers would send Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, and multiple first-round picks to Dallas in exchange for the eight-time All-Star.
Now, let’s talk fit. Irving has already shown he can thrive alongside both LeBron and Luka.
He joined Doncic in Dallas midway through the 2022-23 season, and the pairing clicked quickly. The Mavericks surged to the 2024 NBA Finals as a No. 5 seed, with Irving delivering clutch performances and taking pressure off Doncic when defenses keyed in.
That Finals run wasn’t enough to keep the duo together, though. Ten months ago, Dallas made another blockbuster move, sending Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. The Mavericks went in a new direction, while Doncic landed in L.A. to form a new superteam with LeBron.
Irving’s history with James, of course, goes back even further. They spent three seasons together in Cleveland from 2014 to 2017, culminating in that unforgettable 2016 championship run.
Irving hit the game-winning shot in Game 7 of the Finals, helping the Cavs complete a historic comeback against the 73-win Warriors. That version of Kyrie was fearless, dynamic, and the perfect backcourt complement to LeBron’s all-around brilliance.
Their partnership ended in 2017 when Irving was traded to Boston, but the chemistry they had-particularly in the postseason-has never been forgotten.
Now, with the Lakers reportedly considering ways to add one more star before the February 5 trade deadline, the idea of bringing Kyrie back into the fold is gaining traction. He’s one of the few players in the league who’s not only comfortable sharing the stage with LeBron and Luka, but who’s thrived in that role before.
There are no guarantees in the trade market, and plenty of hurdles would need to be cleared to make a deal like this happen. But if the Lakers are serious about maximizing their championship window, especially with LeBron in the twilight of his career, adding a proven playoff shot-maker like Irving could be the kind of swing-for-the-fences move that puts them over the top.
At the very least, it’s a situation worth watching closely as the deadline nears.