Are Nets, Lakers talking Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris for Russell Westbrook, picks?

Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports reports Sunday that the Nets and Lakers are “actively engaged” in talks that could send Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris to the Lakers for Russell Westbrook and draft compensation.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are actively engaged in discussions on a trade package that would send star point guard Russell Westbrook to Brooklyn in exchange for star point guard Kyrie Irving, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

There’s palpable optimism that an agreement can be struck between the two sides this offseason, but there remain a few hurdles, sources said.

However, while the L.A.-based Haynes wrote that there’s “palpable optimism,” he also quotes sources with the Nets as saying talks “have only been preliminary.” Alex Schiffer of The Athletic said on ESPN Radio that he’s been told the report is not accurate.

Schiffer also tweeted how trying to run an offense through two non-shooting guards like Westbrook and Ben Simmons would never work.

The report also flies in the face of various other reports that the Nets will not move on Irving trade scenarios till after a trade for Kevin Durant is settled.

This is the second time in two days that a deal centered on seven-time All-Star Irving and nine-time All-Star Westbrook has been discussed online.

On Friday morning, Legion Hoops reported there were discussions between the two teams...

Haynes said the sticking points include the extent of draft compensation and whether Harris, who’s due to make $38 million over the next two years, would be included.

The Lakers have been disinclined to the inclusion of Harris, and are instead seeking the insertion of sharpshooter Seth Curry as part of the arrangement, sources said.

Curry is on an expiring $8.5 million deal.

Curry and Harris rank third and fourth respectively in all-time 3-point shooting percentage.

Westbrook will make $47.1 million this season the final year on his five year, $205 million deal signed while he was with the Thunder back in 2017. That’s $10+ million more than Irving who opted in to his $36.9 million player option this week.

According to other reports, the Nets are willing to deal Irving to L.A. — his preferred landing spot — as long as it doesn’t add to Brooklyn’s financial commitments next season. A deal that included Harris would decrease the Nets payroll by roughly $8 million.

Of course, including Harris, a fan favorite and the player with the most time in black-and-white, could indicate the Nets are in a deep rebuild, cutting salary — and luxury taxes — while also building up its stock of draft picks. One counterpoint to that scenario, however, is that the Nets added $9.2 million to its payroll on Thursday when they traded a first round pick to Utah for Royce O’Neale using their big trade exception.

Haynes said nothing is imminent.

The Nets are not expected to be rushed into a deal and will continue conversing the complex specifics with the Lakers on an Irving-Westbrook swap.

John Hollinger also brought up the Lakers as a final destination and laid out a different scenario.

[O]ne outcome seems massively more likely than the rest (to the Lakers for Russell Westbrook and picks, perhaps with Joe Harris and Kendrick Nunn thrown in to even salary) ... the Nets will have the coming return from an Irving deal in the back of their minds as they strategize Durant trades.

Meanwhile, Shams Charania in talking with Bally Sports said Irving has “several suitors,” naming the Lakers, Mavericks and even the 76ers.

“I would keep an eye on Kyrie Irving over the next couple of weeks as well as likely a guy who could potentially get moved,” said Shams. “There several teams engaged in trying to get Kyrie Irving as well (as Durant.)”

• Sources: Lakers, Nets discussing Kyrie Irving-Russell Westbrook trade - Chris Haynes - Yahoo! Sports
• Nets, Lakers talking Kyrie Irving-Russell Westbrook trade - Ted Holmlund - New York Post