NBA Rumors: Anthony Davis Trade Botches Brooklyn Plans For Irving

With Anthony Davis imminently headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, multiple teams will now have to alter plans heading into the 2019-20 NBA season. Among them include the Brooklyn Nets who were among the teams who most believed were planning to try and snarl the 26-year-old big man from the New Orleans Pelicans. They were also in the running for Kyrie Irving, potentially creating a deadly Mutt-and-Jeff duo that could help the Nets improve on last NBA season’s performance.

Before the Davis trade, rumors were booming that Irving would be easy picking for Brooklyn. However, according to the New York Post, it looks like the plot has taken a different turn with the recent developments. And from the looks of it, Brooklyn is just one of multiple teams likely to do the same and turn their attention to plan B.

The scenario would have been different had NBA free agency seen a healthy Kevin Durant. With the one-time NBA MVP expected to sit out the entire next season, the race is on for the next available and talented big man in the market. The closest so far is Al Horford who opted out of his deal with the Boston Celtics. Seeing how Kenny Atkinson needs muscle and size up front, the 33-year-old should be a perfect addition if Brooklyn is able to offer him the lengthy contract he is looking for and sign on the dotted line. Such a scenario was covered in a previous post.

As for Irving, it will be interesting now which team he ends up with. Though it was mentioned that several teams would likely flip the script on Uncle Drew, teams like the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers remain logical spots. However, this would depend if both (and other teams for that matter) have the necessary allocation to spare as far as their team salary budgets are concerned. The Lakers, for example, need to do a lot of reshaping if they are to add that third superstar on their end.

If the market proves undesirable for Irving, he could also end up returning to the Celtic. As mentioned in a previous post, Boston plans to sit down with the top pick of the 2011 NBA Draft before free agency starts on June 30 to see that future plans of the 27-year-old NBA All-Star guard. Like most free agents, Uncle Drew is expected to go with the best package and teams that have good chances at possibly winning the 2019-20 NBA title.