Lakers Rumors

Report: Lakers backup plan could be Buddy Hield or Eric Gordon if they don’t land Kyrie Irving

Published by
Brad Sullivan

If the Los Angeles Lakers come up short in their effort to acquire Kyrie Irving, a reported backup plan has them pursuing either Buddy Hield or Eric Gordon.

The Lakers have been pursuing the 30-year-old Irving, who picked up his player option for the upcoming season with the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week.

However, that decision took place before Irving’s teammate Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Nets. That departure seems to make a subsequent trade of Irving more likely.

One player the Lakers are hoping to include in any deal for Irving is Russell Westbrook, whose acquisition last year turned out be a disaster during the 2021-22 campaign.

There’s no guarantee that the Nets would want Westbrook, which could make a deal for Irving more problematic for the Lakers.

That’s why the rumored “plan B” is supposedly in place. Either Hield and Gordon would help the Lakers backcourt and have plenty of experience.

Hield is 29 years old and has averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game over the course of his career.

Gordon is 33 and has averaged 16.4 points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game since his NBA career began back in 2008 with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Irving’s career numbers are better than those of both players, but he’s had a number of different injuries since his NBA career commenced in 2011. In addition, he was the focal point of controversy last season for the Nets due to his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Still, Irving has a championship pedigree, especially when he and LeBron James helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win their only NBA title in 2016. Irving was especially clutch in that finals when he hit the game-winning shot in Game 7.

Irving reconnecting with James could potentially provide huge dividends for the Lakers if they acquire him. If not, then “plan B” could be implemented.

Brad Sullivan

Brad is a freelance writer for LakersDaily.com, who can clearly recall watching Lakers games in 1972 as they captured the first of their 11 Los Angeles-based titles. The franchise's evolution into a beloved and iconic franchise among its fan base since that memorable year allows for a wider perspective to be a part of his writing about the team's current fortunes.

Published by
Brad Sullivan

Recent Posts

5-time NBA champion says ‘no real fans care’ about Lakers’ success in NBA Cup

The Los Angeles Lakers have started their NBA Cup schedule off on the right foot…

November 21, 2024

LeBron makes stunning announcement as he takes step back on social media

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James uploaded a screenshot of a social media post on…

November 20, 2024

Private message revealed that Austin Reaves sent Dalton Knecht before they knew they’d be teammates

Los Angeles Lakers players Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht were familiar with one another before…

November 20, 2024

Iman Shumpert says LeBron ruined today’s game by forming superteams

The proliferation of superteams in the NBA arguably became normalized once LeBron James teamed up…

November 19, 2024

Shaq says he’ll fight Dwight Howard under certain conditions

Dwight Howard has a compelling case to one day be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial…

November 18, 2024

Report: J.J. Redick admires Serbian coaching, wants to send sons to go to basketball camp there

There are several productive players in the NBA right now who grew up in the…

November 18, 2024