Kyrie Irving almost landed at the Los Angeles Lakers during last season’s trade deadline. Just days before the deadline, Irving woke up from the dead to ask out from the Brooklyn Nets, which irked the team management as they rejected LA’s offer without giving it a serious look. Eventually, Irving ended up at Dallas Mavericks in a three-year, $126 million contract.
However, Kyrie Irving didn’t benefit from his stay in Dallas as the Mavericks crashed out of the playoffs. Having said that, the point guard is fully committed to bringing glory in the next season. Amid this, a former Mavs center forward joined the Lakers and took shots at the franchise, which obviously did not sit well with the veteran point guard.
Kyrie Irving Takes Indirect Dig At Christian Wood For Mavericks Criticism!
Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Lakers officiated the signing of center forward Christian Wood in a two-year veteran minimum contract. The former Mavericks center entered free agency after a fallout with the previous franchise. It seems Wood was not happy with the treatment he received at Dallas, as he hit out at the team moments after signing with LA. Wood said he always wanted to be a Laker to win a championship. Moreover, the forward laid emphasis on the need for communication. Lakers coach Darvin Ham has been transparent with the center throughout. He even promised Wood to play a huge role in the upcoming season. “[I’m for sure] motivated after what Dallas did,” added Christian Wood.
The veteran center openly criticized the Mavericks for lack of communication and took a dig at coach Jason Kidd. However, his statements irked Kyrie Irving, who took an indirect jibe at him less than an hour later. In a viral tweet, Irving wrote that smear campaigns are being launched by cowards. “They Throw their rocks and then hide in the crowd and hope you crash out,” added Irving, likely referring to Christian Wood. The point guard claims that these cowards can just do the talking behind the back and on the face, their energy is completely different. Well, whether Kyrie directed the jibe toward Wood or not it is for the fans to decide. But one thing is certain: this war of words will give rise to a new rivalry between the Mavericks and Lakers.
Christian Wood’s Role With The Lakers Still Uncertain!
With the signing of Christian Wood, the Lakers’s 14-man roster is locked and set to fight it out in the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season. However, Wood’s role within the organization still remains uncertain. As per Jovan Buha of Athletic, Wood will serve as a backup to Anthony Davis at best. He could team up with AD on a couple of occasions and will mostly come off the bench.
“He should average around 20 minutes per game when everyone is healthy,” added Buha. Well, the NBA spokesperson is not entirely wrong. Christian Wood will face challenges to make his space among the star-studded roster. Having said that, Davis’ troublesome health history could serve as a blessing to Wood in the near future.
