So I don't think that this is just a writer stirring shit up: the story seems fake, but there's a pretty clear purpose:
1. The Celtics are currently calling the Pelicans, trying to convince them that a better deal, probably involving Tatum, will be available in the summer.
2. The Lakers and Rich Paul want the deal to happen now, for obvious reasons, and need to convince the Pelicans that the Celtics deal will come off the table.
The only thing that could really take the Celtics deal off the table in the summer would be Kyrie leaving. So, if I were the Lakers/Paul, I would be strategically leaking the hell out of this story, and trying to create a "no smoke without fire" impression that the Pels need to deal now.
That's not the only explanation, and we should definitely be discussing the story, but it's the most likely imo.