If the Boston Celtics lose to Milwaukee, is Kyrie Irving a goner?
Every Celtics fan has the thought in the back of their minds. Is the fate of Kyrie Irving’s free agency tied to the Boston Celtics’ playoff success?
The Boston Celtics laid an egg in game two of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. An atrocious third quarter gave way to an embarrassing defeat that has doubt creeping into the minds of every Celtics fan.
While the season is obviously hanging in the balance with this series, could Kyrie Irving’s free agent fate be as well?
If you ask the talking heads, it doesn’t matter anyway. According to Frank Isola of the Athletic, Irving already has one foot out the door. It’s apparently only a matter of time before Irving and Kevin Durant sign on the dotted line to join the league-worst New York Knicks.
Winning cures all though. When LeBron James was signing one year deals with the Cleveland Cavaliers during his return, there were always rumors he’d be looking elsewhere. After the 2016 NBA Finals comeback against Golden State, James stayed with Cleveland on a three year deal with an opt-out for year three.
Sure, it bought the Cavs an extra year of blanket security, but James wasn’t in the same situation as Irving is now. James was a multi-time NBA Champion with the Heat and likely felt obligated to return home after the media backlash he received following “The Decision.”
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Irving is 27 years old and will go for the best situation and the most money. Boston needs to prove to Irving they are that. Right now, they look like that some days. Other days, the sour taste of regular season turmoil lingers. That happens when the Celtics decide to play hero-ball amidst being on the wrong side of a 22-2 game-sealing run.
Game two was a worst-case scenario. Bad shots created out of desperation was the norm as opposed to the free-flowing ball movement of game one. If that kind of play continues, it could drastically sway Irving towards the Knicks, the two max-slot Clippers, or perhaps even a reunion with James in Los Angeles.
Even if they do figure it out but lose a closely played series against the Bucks, Irving could find other situations more appealing. It doesn’t mean they are (they aren’t) but Irving has been a perennial winner since first making the playoffs in the 2014-15 season. His only series loss was to the 2016-17 Warriors that lost one game during their postseason run. Irving isn’t used to losing.
He definitely isn’t used to losing at this stage. Given the team’s problems and Irving’s interesting comments regarding this off-season, the Celtics could be behind the 8-ball.
It’s all hearsay. Irving isn’t turning down a max deal from a team that he requested a trade to after an NBA Championship. It’s fair to wonder, however, if Irving would join a Knicks team adding a guy with even more postseason success in Durant.
Next. Celtics look ahead to pivotal game three. dark
The Celtics need to get back on track or else the chatter will grow. NBA chatter, as proven by rampant LBJ-Lakers rumors and Adrian Wojnarowski foretelling of a superteam in Golden State, is usually true when everyone is saying it.
An NBA Championship will silence that chatter. A second-round exit may all but ensure it’s validity.