A Kyrie Irving-LeBron James reunion might not be unthinkable after all

The Boston Celtics’ elimination from the NBA playoffs on Wednesday officially started the clock ticking on Kyrie Irving rumors, reports and whispers and now one of the most intriguing possibilities a former teammate with whom he had an often frosty relationship.

That, of course, would be LeBron James. Only three years ago, Irving, James and the Cleveland Cavaliers won an NBA championship, which Irving followed up with a bombshell trade request the next year to escape his teammate’s sizable shadow. But now ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has chronicled James throughout his career, is saying that Irving is open to the idea of joining James on the Los Angeles Lakers.

One key component, the hiring of Jason Kidd, is falling into place, although in a different way than Windhorst imagined. Kidd has been hired as the top assistant, according to ESPN, with Frank Vogel landing the head coaching position.

“I would’ve said that this is impossible for many months, but as time passes here and as the possibility exists that Jason Kidd could be hired as the Lakers coach, I think the possibility of Kyrie and LeBron reuniting — that door, which was deadbolted, has been un-deadbolted and has now been cracked open,” he said on ESPN radio. “It might even be opening more by the day. And I say that just because I think it’s on Kyrie’s radar, it’s on Kyrie’s board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers.”

Irving can opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer, fueling speculation about possible landing spots. Two of those are in New York, with the Knicks — an oft-rumored spot for Kevin Durant — and the Brooklyn Nets.

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