The Lakers need a win right now. Only 35-40 fans showed up to protest the team outside Staples Center on Friday, but still, the fact that Lakers fans are showing up and chanting about how they want team legend Kurt Rambis out as a power broker speaks to just how much of a dumpster fire things have been for Los Angeles. Landing Kyrie Irving as a free agent would be a win. It’s probably the best realistic scenario for them this summer, and while 20 months ago this idea would have been laughable the idea if Irving and LeBron James teaming up in Los Angeles is something Irving has at least discussed, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has covered both players (hat tip Hoops Hype). “But as time passes here and as the possibility exists that Jason Kidd could be hired as the Lakers coach, I think the possibility of Kyrie and LeBron reuniting — that door, which was deadbolted, has been un-deadbolted and has now been cracked open … It might even be opening more by the day. And I say that just because I think it’s on Kyrie’s radar, it’s on Kyrie’s board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers.” A few things to unpack here. While Rob Pelinka and the Lakers were impressed with Kidd in an interview, sources say he remains a long shot to be hired as the head coach (the Lakers wanted to force him upon Tyronn Lue as an assistant, one of the reasons Lue got up from the table and walked away). Irving and LeBron both respect Kidd, but that alone is not reason to hire a coach. That Irving has “had discussions” with his camp (or whomever) about this is a step down that road, it’s a long way from happening. Irving will have plenty of options, from New York to Boston (still, despite how fans feel about him right now) to Los Angeles. Irving, despite his playoff woes, is coming off maybe his best regular season and will be an All-NBA selection (second team is my guess), he is still one of the best guards in the game. Story continues Also, do you want to project and predict what’s in the mind of Mr. Flat Earth? A lot of things can — and will — happen before July 1. Still, for a Lakers team that is not going to land the biggest name free agents this summer — Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard are all not leaning Lakers — landing Irving would be the win they need.<doc-sep>Brian Windhorst and Jackie MacMullan separately suggested there is a possibility of Kyrie Irving signing with the Los Angeles Lakers to reunite with LeBron James. Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 at least in part because he no longer wanted to play with James. "As time passes here, I would have said this was impossible for many months," said Brian Windhorst. "But as time passes here and the possibility exists that Jason Kidd could be hired as the Lakers' coach, I think the possibility of Kyrie and LeBron reuniting is.. you know that door which was deadbolted has been un-deadbolted and is now cracked open. "Definitely, no question. No question about that," replied Jackie MacMullan. "Might even be opening more by the day. I just think it's on Kyrie's radar. It's on Kyrie's board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers. But as you said it's pretty difficult to read him. "I asked him point-blank, Brian. I asked him this very question," said MacMullan. "I said, 'you know what everybody's saying, Kyrie, they're saying now you're going to go back with LeBron'. "And he looked at me and he laughed. I said 'Is that a yes or a no?' "And he laughed again and he put his arm around me and then he left. So determine that what you may. That was three weeks ago. Three or four weeks ago. So everything is in play with him right now." Irving has also been linked with the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, while re-signing with the Boston Celtics remains a distinct possibility as well.<doc-sep>After failing to make the Eastern Conference Finals, it sounds like Kyrie Irving is more than happy to take his talents to the West Coast. More specifically, to ex-teammate LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the likelihood of Irving and James reuniting is getting stronger and stronger each day. “But as time passes here and as the possibility exists that Jason Kidd could be hired as the Lakers coach, I think the possibility of Kyrie and LeBron reuniting—that door, which was deadbolted, has been un-deadbolted and has now been cracked open. It might even be opening more by the day,” he said during a recent radio interview. However, he clarified that Irving’s move to the West is nothing more of a possibility as of now, adding, “And I say that just because I think it’s on Kyrie’s radar, it’s on Kyrie’s board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers.” Irving and James played together for the Cleveland Cavaliers between 2014 to 2017, ending the 52-year-old “Cleveland sports curse” with a championship win over the Golden State Warriors in 2016. In related news, the Lakers have reportedly tapped Frank Vogel as head coach.<doc-sep>NBA rumors: Kyrie Irving has discussed joining LeBron James, Lakers originally appeared on nbcsportsbayarea.com "You couldn't live with your own failures, and where did that lead you? Back to me." Supervillain Thanos mutters these words to The Avengers in Marvel's latest blockbuster "Avengers: Endgame." But the Mad Titan's message also can be applied to a potential reunion between LeBron James and Kyrie Irving this summer. After going to three straight NBA Finals against the Warriors with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Irving demanded a trade to get out of James' shadow in the summer of 2017. He was shipped to the Boston Celtics, where he had a chance to be the leader of a title-contending team. Irving's two-year stint in Boston possibly ended earlier this week when the Milwaukee Bucks bounced the Celtics from the second round of the NBA playoffs in five games. Irving will be a free agent this offseason, and James' new team, the Lakers, are looking for a superstar to pair with the three-time NBA champion. The thought of a James-Irving reunion once was a far-fetched idea. But after the Celtics guard admitted he called and apologized to James for the way their time in Cleveland ended, the wheels started to turn. Now, with Irving and the Celtics on vacation, the potential for James-Irving part deux is becoming more real by the day, ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on the "Hoop Collective" podcast. "I would've said that this is impossible for many months," Windhorst said. "But as time passes here and as the possibility exists that Jason Kidd could be hired as the Lakers coach, I think the possibility of Kyrie and LeBron reuniting - that door, which was deadbolted, has been un-deadbolted and has now been cracked open. It might even be opening more by the day. "And I say that just because I think it's on Kyrie's radar, it's on Kyrie's board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers." Story continues The Lakers on Saturday reportedly agreed to hire Frank Vogel as their new coach and Jason Kidd as an assistant, which could bode well for the Lakers' dreams of signing Irving. He has a good relationship with Kidd, so adding him could be the Lakers positioning themselves for a big free-agent score. Jason Kidd has agreed to join Vogel's Lakers staff in a prominent assistant coaching role, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/ZrQRWfq1US — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 11, 2019 L.A. was supposed to challenge the Warriors for NBA supremacy during Year 1 of the James era. but injuries, poor chemistry and trade rumors derailed their season, leading to the resignation of Magic Johnson and the departure of coach Luke Walton. The Dubs, on the other hand, have battled complacency all season. But after eliminating the Rockets on Friday night, the Warriors now are eight wins away from a third straight NBA title. [RELATED: Kyrie-Ty Lue reportedly relationship reason Lakers ended talks] Should Irving elect to sign with the Lakers, it could have widespread implications for the Warriors and the NBA as a whole. For months, rumors have swirled that Irving and Kevin Durant could be looking to join forces this summer, signing with the Knicks in order to bring New York back to prominence. Irving choosing the Lakers over the Knicks could, in theory, start a domino effect that causes Durant to stay with the Warriors. Stay tuned.<doc-sep>
Kyrie Irving must really, truly not care what anyone thinks about him, or at least that will have to be the case if the superstar winds up in Hollywood this summer. The Boston Celtics guard is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent when the new league year begins in July and will be a central figure in what should be the most fascinating offseason in NBA history. Despite preseason pledges to re-sign with Boston, Irving undoubtedly will play the field after a tumultuous two-season stint in green. Irving jetting to New York alongside Kevin Durant has long seemed like the most likely outcome, but what if Irving heads west to team up with his old friend LeBron James? Despite the way their relationship in Cleveland ended, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Irving ends up joining James as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. “As time passes here,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently said on his podcast, “I would have said that this is impossible for many months, but as time passes here, and as the possibility exists that Jason Kidd could be hired as the Lakers coach, I think the possibility of Kyrie and LeBron reuniting is — that door that was deadbolted has now been ‘undeadbolted’ and is now cracked open. It might even be opening more by the day.” Ultimately, the Lakers decided against hiring Kidd as their head coach. LA hired Frank Vogel but added Kidd to the staff as an assistant, so that connection is there. “I just think it’s on Kyrie’s radar. I think it’s on Kyrie’s board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers,” Windhorst added. This isn’t unprecedented news, though. Despite that pledge to stay in Boston, rumors about Irving’s willingness to join James in Los Angeles date all the way back to January. Irving’s otherwise random midseason phone call to bury the hatchet with James only adds to the intrigue.