Kyrie Irving’s future with the Brooklyn Nets continues to be up in the air, but one former NBA player believes there is a perfect fit for him out in Los Angeles.
Matt Barnes recently told TMZ Sports that an Irving reunion with LeBron James would immediately make the Lakers title contenders again.
“I think what they have right now, if they can learn to co-exist with the group they have now, they’re really close,” Barnes said.
Irving and James won a championship together in Cleveland in 2016, defeating the Golden State Warriors, but it is no secret there has been some bad blood between the two in the past, with Irving taking multiple shots and trolling James on numerous occasions.
Irving also comes with some baggage as he missed most of last season because he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, making him ineligible for home games under NYC law until the postseason.
Despite the baggage, Barnes believes Irving’s talent outweighs it all.
“Kyrie is probably a top-5 talent in the world, but you never know what you’re going to get,” he said. “So, if Kyrie is committed to playing whether he plays in Brooklyn or the Lakers, he definitely makes them a title contender.”
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