LeBron James ‘privately adamant’ that Lakers need to trade for Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving

Notorious ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith tried to lower expectations surrounding the Lakers Thursday, saying they’re not even the best team in Los Angeles and that ‘we need to pump our brakes’ regarding the franchise.

Smith’s critique comes as LeBron James is reportedly putting pressure on the Lakers to improve their current roster, with The Athletic saying the star has been ‘privately adamant’ the team needs to trade for Nets guard Kyrie Irving.

That report would imply that James agrees the franchise is not a contender as presently constructed, though he may not have put it in the same bombastic terms as Smith.

‘I’m looking at the Lakers this year, we need to pump our brakes in this regard,’ he said on ESPN’s Get Up.

‘They still ain’t the best team in LA. Kawhi Leonard is coming back, Paul George is there, John Wall is a big-time pickup.

‘They’ve beaten the Lakers seven straight times, like 32 of the last 39 times. It ain’t even a damn rivalry. I mean the Clippers are just mopping the streets of LA with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

‘So before we talk about LeBron James and what the Lakers are gonna’ be this year in the NBA… can we talk about what they gon’ be in LA? Because that don’t look like much.’  

James and the Lakers reportedly agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension Wednesday, but last season showed the presence of the four-time MVP does not necessarily guarantee success.

The Lakers missed the playoffs for the second time in James’ four seasons there, following a first-round exit at the hands of the Suns the year prior.

In fact, the Lakers have only won (at least) a playoff series in one of James’ four seasons with the franchise, during the team’s 2019-20 championship run.

The Lakers are interested in Kyrie Irving after missing the playoffs last season

Those struggles have apparently emboldened the Lakers to make changes to their roster, with their sights currently set on Irving.

The All-Star guard missed the majority of the Nets season last year after the team sidelined him because of his unwillingness to get vaccinated, making him unable to play home games under the city’s private sector vaccination mandate until it was lifted in March.

So when Irving, who was seeking a max contract extension from the Nets, reportedly drew up a list of his desired sign-and-trade destinations (which included the Lakers, Knicks and Heat), not many of them actually had the desire nor the financial flexibility to acquire Irving.

As ESPN reported in June, none of the six (known) teams on Irving’s list, which also included the Clippers, Mavericks and Sixers, ‘have the cap space to sign Irving without Brooklyn cooperating on a sign-and-trade.’

LeBron James brought a championship to LA in 2019-20 but the team is in need of a retooling

Irving would later opt into his player option with the Nets, though a Kevin Durant trade request just days after has the Lakers convinced Irving could still be available for the right price. 

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said Wednesday that the Lakers have made it known recently that they’d be willing to part with two first-round picks in a potential trade for Irving.

However, any acquisition of Irving via trade would likely have to involve finding a home for Russell Westbrook’s massive contract, as well as the assumption that the Nets actually want to blow up their team.

Win-now moves like signing veteran T.J. Warren and trading a first-round pick for Royce O’Neale, however, do not present the image of a team going into a rebuilding phase. 

Regardless, Irving could still land in LA next offseason as a free agent if he does not re-sign with Brooklyn, and Smith would like the look of that team. 

‘You’re talking about LeBron James, with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving,’ he said of a possible Lakers core in the future. 

‘I don’t think anybody could assume that they’re out of the mix.’