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Boston Celtics: Kyrie Irving shuts down extension talks

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2018 at the TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2018 at the TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Kyrie Irving shut down any talks of a potential extension with the Boston Celtics

All it too was one little rumors about Kyrie Irving‘s 2019 free agency, and now he is going to be bombarded with questions about his future any time someone is talking to him. The only way you could possibly put an end to all those talks is with a contract extension, but Irving made it cleare that is not going to happen.

Right now, the last thing anyone should do is look at this as a sign that he is non-committal and wants to leave the Celtics, because it is exactly what every single player should be saying. Keep in mind, Irving is still on a bargain contract, and knows that he is in line for his first real massive pay day.

The Celtics have made it clear that they want him to be a part of their future and is going to get offered the max in 2019. Irving pointed out that signing an extension at this point would mean he has to sacrifice some money.

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Irving is at the very beginning of his career, and the Celtics do not need him to take a pay cut to keep this core in tact. Irving has earned every bit of that money, and absolutely nobody should have expected him to sacrifice something with a contract extension.

Beyond the money, it also does not make sense for other reasons. The Celtics have not even played a full five minutes with this active core, and there is so much that can happen over a year. At this point, the only reason we could suggest the Celtics definitely want a extension, is for the exact reason that it would save them money. Beyond that, this team has something they know they can work with, and everyone wants to see what they can become before deciding anything else.

Other than ambiguous speculation, that will come along with on upcoming free agency, everything has pointed to Irving being committed to this team. It is unfair and unrealistic to expect him to commit anything beyond what we already have in front of us.

It is natural for anyone to be nervous that a player might leave, because NBA free agency has been insane lately. No one can put it past any player to leave any team they are with. Right now, there is nothing that should make you believe Irving is anymore likely to leaver than any free agent in 2019.

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The Celtics established a rebuild by always keeping the future in mind, but you do not have to do that with Irving. We need to think about the progress in his rehab, the offseason workouts, and finally the culmination of one of the best rebuilds we have seen in recent history. After all that, then we can start taking about his 2019 free agency.

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