Of all the executed deals during this year’s wild NBA trade deadline, moves for Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook felt long overdue for the Nets and Lakers. And, as fans continue to process the aftermath, those still wondering why the long-speculated blockbuster trade involving the two never materialized may be shocked to learn it was never a true possibility.
To some, a deal involving Irving, Westbrook and the Lakers’ coveted 2027 and 2029 first-round picks seemed like a realistic framework to make something happen. But, as NBA insider Marc Stein explained Friday, Brooklyn all but prevented a potential deal after demanding from L.A. an asking price for Irving more steep than any other club.
“Based on everything I was told, the Nets asked from the Lakers way more than they asked from any other team for Kyrie,” Stein said on his podcast, #thisleague UNCUT, with TNT insider Chris Haynes. “They didn’t just want the two firsts and Russ, they wanted [Austin] Reaves, [Max] Christie, Rui [Hachimura] in a separate deal. They wanted everything the Lakers had.”
