Spurs could be facilitator in Russell Westbrook/Kyrie Irving deal / News - Basketnews.com

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A third team might be needed for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets to make a deal that would send Kyrie Irving to the Lakers.

Russell Westbrook

MIN:34.33PTS:18.47 (49.91%)REB:7.41As:7.05ST:0.94BL:0.26TO:3.77GM:78ProfileNBA2021/2022

According to an NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski that team could be the San Antonio Spurs as they would use their cap space to take Russell Westbrook’s contract.

"A team like the Spurs could be a facilitator in a Westbrook/Kyrie deal," Wojnarowski said, per Josh Paredes.

"You'd have to incentivize them at a pretty high level," added Wojnarowski.

"That unwillingness of the Lakers to incentivize with multiple picks is still part of the reason that hasn’t gone anywhere yet. That could change," explained Wojnarowski.

In case of the trade, the 30-year-old Irving would reunite with LeBron James. The tandem helped the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA championship.

Irving, a seven-time All-Star, averaged 27.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds this past season, but missed a significant number of home games due to his unvaccinated status.

The 33-year-old Westbrook registered 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists with 10 triple-doubles last season. However, the Lakers have missed the playoffs.

Moreover, Westbrook's scoring average was his lowest since 2009-10, and his 3-point percentage (29.8% 3PT) ranked 251st out of 278 NBA players who attempted at least 100 shots from beyond the arc.

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