Kyrie Irving is back in Lakers discussions tied to Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic could share the backcourt with Kyrie Irving again in Los Angeles. The Lakers have weighed the potential benefits and drawbacks of reuniting the former Dallas teammates.

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Veteran NBA reporter of Scoob B’s Brandon Robinson first disclosed the internal discussions on Saturday. The talks are conditional on LeBron James leaving the Lakers in free agency.

The Lakers have weighed the pros and cons of reuniting Luka Doncic with Kyrie Irving, per @ScoopB.

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— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) May 24, 2026

Doncic and Irving played together in Dallas during their first full season as teammates. That partnership helped lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.

Their offensive chemistry ranked among the most effective in the entire league. Irving thrived as a secondary creator beside another elite ball handler and scorer.

Several notable obstacles stand in the way of any possible reunion. James is positioned to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time since he joined the Lakers.

His decision on free agency will heavily shape the franchise’s direction. Whatever choice James makes will influence how Los Angeles proceeds this offseason.

Dallas also completed one major trade with Los Angeles involving Doncic. The Mavericks sent Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.

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Davis appeared in only 29 games in Dallas before injuries led to another trade. The Mavericks traded him to the Wizards after his brief injury-shortened tenure.

Whether Dallas would enter another significant transaction with the Lakers remains unclear. Irving also signed a 3-year $119 million contract extension with Dallas last offseason.

Los Angeles would likely need to package multiple contracts, possibly including Austin Reaves, to match salaries. The financial complexity adds another layer of difficulty to any potential deal.

Irving is 34 years old and missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL. Durability concerns have followed him throughout portions of his professional career.

Significant uncertainty now surrounds the franchise as the offseason gets underway.

What a Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving reunion would look like

The Lakers continue to evaluate every available option to construct a roster around Doncic. Their early postseason exit this year exposed clear limitations that require attention this summer.

Robinson’s report confirms the front office is actively exploring all roster possibilities this offseason. A Doncic and Irving partnership offers proven offensive upside, but also considerable risk for Los Angeles.

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