NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving expected to stay at Brooklyn Nets beyond this season amid LA Lakers talk

Talk of a potential reunion between Kyrie Irving and LeBron James in Los Angeles may have to wait. After an offseason where many expected Irving to be traded to the LA Lakers, talks ramped up as Irving's off-court controversy picked up earlier this year.

Following his controversial anti-Semitic post on social media, Irving engaged in a tense back-and-forth with a reporter at a press conference. After carefully tiptoeing around an apology for days, Irving was suspended by the Brooklyn Nets. This fueled theories that Irving would be traded to LA sooner rather than later.

According to many, James was able to keep Irving in check and focused on the game. Despite that, in the weeks following Irving's return to the lineup, the Nets began to put things together. They climbed up the Eastern Conference standings until they had one of the best records in the conference.

Kevin Durant suffered an injury against the Miami Heat, forcing him to the sidelines and halting their momentum. Irving has continued to produce, furthering talk of a reunion with James in LA after his contract expires at the end of this year. The anonymous NBA executive predicted Irving's next move to HoopsHype, saying:

“I think Kyrie ends up with a short extension with the Nets. A sign-and-trade for Kyrie this summer would be tough given the length needed and assets to make it happen from another team. I think there’s an incentive for an extension on a one-plus-one or two-year deal."

"If I’m Brooklyn, I’m not going past two years. I don’t know if Kyrie would accept that. The Lakers will go into the summer with cap space and can offer two years, $60 million, where he could rejoin LeBron James and play with Anthony Davis.”

Here are some of Irving's sensational highlights from his 32-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in December.

Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets

Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets are fighting to remain one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. With a 27-16 record, the team finds itself in fourth place behind the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, and first-place Boston Celtics.

Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs)

Although Irving has been on a tear recently, a calf strain recently forced him to miss the team's Tuesday game in San Antonio. In the absence of both Irving and Durant, the Nets struggled and ultimately fell to the Spurs, 106-98.

Despite playing in just 32 games this season, Irving has managed to put up some impressive numbers. While his three-point percentage has dropped since his 41.8% average last season, he's averaging 25.6 points per game, more than his 23.1 career average.

While the LA Lakers are fighting for their spot in the Western Conference, it's no secret that Kyrie Irving's ability to essentially score at will would be a massive asset.

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