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Mike Gorman: Kyrie Irving ‘not untouchable’

By Mateo Aycardi

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 11: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics gestures during a game against the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden on March 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 11: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics gestures during a game against the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden on March 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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The Celtics’ Voice is unsure of Kyrie’s future in Green

The Boston Celtics finished their 2017-2018 campaign with a tough seven game series against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

And while the results were disappointing, there is much to be optimistic about rolling into next year.

One of the bright spots for Boston in their run as the second best seed in the East was clearly Kyrie Irving, as the former Duke Blue-Devil continued his incredible move from Cleveland and gained yet another All-Star nod in his first year as a Celtic.

Irving seems to be an untouchable piece on a team that looks poised for a trip to the finals sooner rather than later, but longtime Celtic commentator Mike Gorman recently told Evan Valenti of CLNS Media that he doesn’t think Kyrie should be looked at as completely untouchable.

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“Certainly, if you’re going to trade Kyrie you get excited because there’s a whole lot coming back” Gorman noted. “Danny [Ainge] doesn’t like to put the untouchable label on anybody. I do think [Jayson] Tatum is untouchable myself. It would take some unbelievable offer to get him away from Boston right now. But I think everyone else is in play to some degree.”

Gorman also talked about the fact that the only real player he could realistically see the Celtics’ dealing Tatum or Kyrie would be “the big guy from New Orleans.”

It would be shocking, however, to see the Celtics turning their heads on two of the most promising scorers in the association today, even if it did involve a player like Anthony Davis. 

Other Notes from the Interview

Mike Gorman also voiced his opinion on a number of different topics for the Celtics, including Jayson Tatum’s emergence at such an early age, as well as Marcus Smart’s impending free agency.

For Tatum’s development, Gorman was very optimistic regarding Tatum’s potential in the near future.

“The thing I find most intriguing with Jayson is you look at him and even though he just turned 20, he’s just that. He’s a kid who just turned 20. So you wanna say, “Gee I want to be around to see where his skill level is 2 or 3 years from now when he’s maybe 15-20 pounds heavier with muscle and could potentially be a dominant player in this league.”

Marcus Smart is also due a hefty pay raise after the energy and tenacity he brought to the team in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals, and Gorman thinks he deserves it.

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“I think Marcus is a special player. I think the things he does you have to see to understand. The stat sheet really doesn’t do him justice over what he does over the course of the game. And he has a knack for making the big play, and the big play not necessarily in basketball. And his hustle, his demeanor, his attitude on the court is contagious with the other guys. Again, I’m no salary cap guru, but I would do everything possible to resign Marcus Smart.”

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