
Update:
According to multiple reports, Kyrie Irving is indeed signing with the Brooklyn Nets. He will be joined by Kevin Durant with the duo both signing four-year deals. DeAndre Jordan, another Lakers target will also sign with the Nets.
The Lakers never seemed to be in the running for Durant but Irving was widely reported as their second preferred option after Kawhi Leonard.
Original Story Follows:
Kyrie Irving was a top target for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were targeting Kyrie and Kawhi according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. The team has max cap space but the Lakers have hit a snag according to Joe Vardon of the Athletic. Vardon stated that many recruiters believe Kyrie is going to Brooklyn.
Soon, Adrian Wojnarowski echoed this sentiment, stating that Kyrie Irving will be meeting with the Nets at the start of free agency.
Free agent Kyrie Irving is meeting with the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Sunday and both sides are motivated to move quickly toward reaching a 4-year, $141M deal, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019
This tweet was posted exactly 24 hours before free agency was set to begin. The terms of the contract mirror that of Kyrie’s seeming replacement, Kemba Walker.
Signs that Kyrie Irving was going to Brooklyn have been widely reported during these past few weeks. Irving signed with ROC Nation after leaving his former agent.
The Lakers still have the $32 million in cap space and the options are available. It was reported that Los Angeles has a meeting with Kawhi Leonard. There is mutual interest between the Lakers and D’Angelo Russell as well.