Lakers Rumors: Kyrie Irving Expected To Reunite With LeBron James After Final Season In Brooklyn

Kyrie Irving might still end up reuniting with LeBron James as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. It's just going to take a little longer than previously expected.

Irving is planning on going to the Lakers when he becomes a free agent at the end of the 2022-23 NBA season, according to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly unlikely to re-sign the point guard.

It was widely reported in the summer that Irving wanted to leave Brooklyn for Los Angeles. In order to do so without a trade, Irving would've had to take a massive pay cut, turning down his $36.9 million player option. The Lakers could only offer Irving the $6 million taxpayer mid-level exception this past offseason.

After Kevin Durant asked to be traded, it seemed like only a matter of time before the Nets and Lakers would work out a deal. Los Angeles refused to part with multiple first-round draft picks, and Brooklyn decided to keep its core of stars together for one more season.

This might be the Nets' last chance to compete for a championship with Durant and Irving on the roster. Brooklyn was unwilling to give Irving a max contract offer. In three seasons with the Nets, Irving has only played 103 regular-season games.

Durant and Irving went to Brooklyn together in the summer of 2019. The Nets have only won a single playoff series since adding the two superstars. Durant has been limited to 90 regular-season games as a Net.

Less than a year before asking out of Brooklyn, Durant signed a four-year contract extension with the Nets. The team seems intent on keeping the two-time NBA Finals MVP, at least for now.

It's possible that the Nets and Irving will come to an agreement next year if the team is coming off a title run. With Ben Simmons set to play his first season in Brooklyn, the Nets arguably have the most-talented starting lineup in basketball.

Two seasons ago, the Nets were an overtime loss away from eliminating the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the playoffs.

Los Angeles' pursuit of Irving next year will depend on how its season progresses. Because Russell Westbrook's $47 million salary is set to come off the books, the Lakers are on track to be able to offer Irving a lucrative contract. That could change if Los Angeles moves Westbrook before the trade deadline in exchange for players who are signed beyond this season.

Unlike the Nets, the Lakers aren't considered to be one of the championship favorites at the start of the season.