Feel free to exhale that breath you have been holding in since Kyrie Irving told the media to “talk to me July 1st” in regards to his future with the Boston Celtics.
In his weekly interview with the Toucher and Rich radio show, Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge provided further insight into the situation surrounding Kyrie Irving’s expiring contract. Per Mass Live:
"“I think a lot of people because of Kyrie’s announcement at the beginning of the year thought that there was a marriage,” Ainge told the hosts. “I think it’s more like an engagement, and we’re gonna get married on July 1st, and I think that engagement is still on as far as I know in my individual conversations with Kyrie. We’re still engaged, but we really can’t make those vows, sign that contract, until July 1st.”"
Ainge has consistently expressed nothing but confidence all season when discussing Irving’s future with the team. And why shouldn’t he? The Celtics have put together a title contender that is built to compete both this year and several years to come and have given Kyrie the keys to the car.
He wanted to be in the driver seat, and Ainge gave him his wish. He wanted to be in a winning culture, and he was traded to the franchise with more championships than any other group in the NBA. His dad played for Boston university. One of Irving’s dreams is to retire his number 11 in the rafters of TD Garden.
Oh, and let’s not forget about this:
“If you guys will have me back, I plan on re-signing here.” - @KyrieIrving https://t.co/0wDLzuv5WL
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 4, 2018
Quite honestly, it appears that the central reason behind Irving’s non-committal comments stems from his frustration with the media in its consistent questioning of his future.
According to Ainge, it looks as if Irving just wants to be his own man and doesn’t like to be grouped up among the other NBA elite and be told that what he does depends on what they do.
"“I think he’s — I don’t know, I think that he just doesn’t like his name in all these rumors and associated with all these other players. I think he likes to be his own man and have his own mind and his own opinions. But I feel like there’s still a chance that on July 1 he stays here and that’s what we’re shooting for. We still have a date on July 1st.”"
A lot can change between now and July 1st, but for now Celtics brass feels confident that their star point guard is here to stay.
With the Boston Celtics sitting in 4th place in the Eastern Conference and winners of 14 of their last 19 games, the team will be competing for its 18th Championship. Kyrie Irving (barring injury) will get his opportunity to lead this group into playoff battle. Regardless of how the season ends for the C’s they will be major players for Anthony Davis, a franchise altering talent that paired with Irving could wreak havoc on the rest of the NBA.