3 reasons why Kyrie Irving’s departure has benefited the Boston Celtics

No more trade rumors involving Tatum and Brown

There was a thinking that Kyrie Irving was willing to return to the Boston Celtics if the C’s faithful “would have him back”. That was a conditional promise, though, and during the 2018-19 season that was becoming abundantly clear amidst trade rumors involving Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for Anthony Davis.

The fact that the team succeeded in the 2018 playoffs and almost made the NBA Finals without Irving made appeasing the mercurial point guard less of a priority. Giving up key pieces to pair Anthony Davis and Irving–while a popular rumor–was never a smart long-term play for a franchise that was thriving in the short-term while plotting dynastic success in the long-term.

Bleacher Report’s Sean Highkin proclaimed as much last summer when he showed skepticism towards a Davis deal:

"Giving up what it will likely take to pry Davis from New Orleans—promising young wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, plus draft picks—is a gamble that could set Ainge’s much-hyped rebuilding-while-contending gambit back years."

Since Irving defected to Brooklyn to pair with Kevin Durant and Davis was dealt to Los Angeles, there have been few rumors about dealing any of the C’s core pieces. In fact, Danny Ainge kept his roster completely in tact through the trade deadline and appears content with the pieces in place going forward.

Everything is fine now in Boston. With Atkinson recently being fired and the Nets sputtering this season to a low playoff seed without Irving in uniform, it is clear the Boston Celtics benefited from his departure in a slew of ways.