Sources: Ainge out, Stevens to C’s front office

The Los Angeles Lakers are not interested in pursuing Kyrie Irving in free agency, sources tell Tim Cato of The Athletic.

In order to acquire Irving, the Lakers would have to sacrifice several of their deadline acquisitions that have allowed them to balance out their roster.

Irving attended the Lakers’ Game 6 win over the Memphis Grizzlies and sat courtside.

Sources say the Dallas Mavericks remain optimistic of their chances of re-signing Irving. Rival teams also expect that scenario to be the most likely one. Despite missing out on the play-in, the Mavericks believe Irving and Luka Doncic can be a successful pairing.

The Mavericks began to conceptualize the possibility of acquiring Irving last November when he was suspended for refusing to apologize for posting a film with antisemitic views to his social media. The front office saw it as an opportunity to acquire a player at a lower cost than is typical for a player of Irving’s ability.