LA Lakers Rumors: Team Could Trade Top Draft Pick To Cleveland Cavaliers For Kyrie Irving

The LA Lakers know that changes need to be made before the start of next season, and no one is really safe. Coming off the worst season in the history of the franchise and losing Kobe Bryant to retirement means there needs to be an overhaul. Things have already started with the firing of head coach Byron Scott, but much more is coming. Now, there are rumors that big-time trades could be made and that the Lakers are looking at Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers as a target.

Los Angeles wants to make changes, and it is known that the Cavs are rumored to want to ship out some players if they don’t win the NBA Championship this year. Two of those players are Irving and Kevin Love. The Lakers have a lot of trade chips, and would love to bring in a player like Kyrie Irving.

Apparently, some used to think that Jordan Clarkson was the future of the Lakers, and rather untouchable. That no longer seems to be the case and as of now, anyone and everyone on the roster could be moved if it would help better the team.

Now, the Lakers aren’t even against trading away their top pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, which could be a very high one. If the Lakers end up with a lottery pick outside of the top 5, the Philadelphia 76ers will get it due to the Steve Nash deal. A top three pick could end up being great trade bait, as general manager Mitch Kupchak said via Basketball Insiders.

“If you get a top-three pick … not only does it get you the ability to take a player that is considered top-three in the world, you have the ability to move the pick. I think there are some quality players that can be starters or All-Stars in this league, [and] that goes beyond two players.”

That ends up leading to many rumors, and the Lakers end up being a part of a lot of speculation. There is already talk that LA could go after Jimmy Butler and make a trade with the Chicago Bulls, but Kyrie Irving may be the more coveted target.

Stephen A. Smith of ESPN said a couple of months ago that Irving was sick of playing second-fiddle to LeBron James. It’s also been noted that if the Cavs don’t win the title this year, he would be the one on the trading block and not James, obviously.

Morning News USA is reporting that a deal to the Lakers is a big possibility, and even have a proposed trade package. In the proposed deal, the Lakers would receive Kyrie Irving from the Cavs and send Cleveland a package of their top draft pick and Jordan Clarkson.

Sportsrageous believes that there will be other options for the LA Lakers once the current season ends, and they could be DeMar DeRozan, Hassan Whiteside, or even Kevin Durant. With a huge amount of space in the salary cap, the Lakers could pretty much have their pick of the litter.

No matter what trades or draft selections are made, the LA Lakers roster is likely going to look very different for the 2016-2017 NBA season. With a lot of youth and no real leader to speak of, Kyrie Irving could be the one to guide the Lakers back in the right direction. If the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t end up winning the whole thing this year, a trade is likely going to be on the table and Irving or Kevin Love could be looking for a new home.

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