NEW ORLEANS - With the trade deadline just five days away and Kyrie Irving having already informed the Brooklyn Nets he wants out, LeBron James was asked if Irving -- whom he teamed up with for three NBA Finals appearances and a championship in Cleveland -- is the type of player that can stamp the Los Angeles Lakers' title chances.
Last month, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka declared, "if there's an opportunity to get all the way to the end and win a championship, there's no resource we'll hold onto if we feel like that's there.