07-06-2022, 09:51 AM
Quote:The Lakers are the one team with an obvious desire to poach Irving from Brooklyn, but there is plenty of skepticism around the NBA that L.A. can acquire Irving in a direct two-team swap with the Nets. Brooklyn's goal of contending already disqualifies a theoretical package of Russell Westbrook and two first-round picks from satisfying the Nets' wishes for any Irving or Durant return.
Westbrook is also set to make $47 million in 2022-23, roughly $11 million more than Irving. This exercise is not apples to apples, but if Brooklyn essentially replaced Irving's contract with Westbrook's, the Nets would suffer over $50 million in tax penalties, according to salary projections provided to B/R.