The Boston Celtics' conflict with Kyrie Irving feels so... 2022. Yeah, they beat him in the 2024 NBA Finals (pretty easily, too), but honestly, it felt sweeter to beat him on the team he left the Celtics for directly after he deserted them.
The whole Celtics-Kyrie ordeal has plenty more issues, but everyone knows about them. The point being that Irving hasn't really been their direct problem for a couple years now. That's not to say that he could never be in their way again before his career ends.
Irving has spent the season on the shelf after a truly unfortunate ACL tear (you're not a true Celtics fan if you're happy he got hurt), but Dallas appears to be headed for a rebuild, which means his place on the team makes less and less sense. That's why the following trade between the Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks, proposed by Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley, actually makes a lot of sense.
Bucks receive: Irving
Mavericks receive: No. 10 pick, Ryan Rollins, Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis
A deal like this would make sense because, in a time where it's never appeared more over between Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo, this is the last-second Hail Mary move the Bucks would make to salvage the situation.
Would it save them? No, but Irving makes sense for them, as his specialty is playing second fiddle to a juggernaut. He's also kept his nose clean for the past few years, so trading for him isn't as risky as it used to be.
But this deal should get the Celtics' attention for two reasons.
It reignites Irving's rivalry with the Celtics
It's been pretty clear for some time that Irving wants to destroy Boston whenever he gets the chance. It's been seven years since he last wore the green jersey, but even so, there's been no indication that his contempt for the franchise and its fanbase has died down.
Plus, he has an extra incentive after the Celtics embarrassed him in the NBA Finals two years ago. Not only did they handle their business against the Mavericks in 2024, but Irving underwhelmed in that series, averaging 19.8 points and five assists while shooting 41.4% from the field and 27.6% from three.
And now he'd get another shot at them? He'd jump at the chance to shut them and their fans up. Boston would be down for it, too, because they would love to get back at Irving every chance they get.
It reignites the Bucks' rivalry with the Celtics
Because of how easily the Celtics have dismantled Milwaukee, it's felt like a while since this was really a rivalry. Actually, like Irving, a Bucks-Celtics rivalry last felt legit back in 2022 and hasn't really resurfaced since. That's been because the Bucks have failed to meet the Celtics halfway in the playoffs.
But getting someone like Irving would put them back in the playoff conversation and would make them more respectable against the Celtics. Would it make Milwaukee as good as Boston? Absolutely not. But that has more to do with how stacked the Celtics have become as a team over the years than the Bucks, who are grasping at straws.
Outside of trading Giannis, which the Bucks probably should have done a long time ago, trading for someone like Irving is the most realistic & sensible move for them.
Milwaukee and Kyrie joining forces would be a union both sides would be on board with because of Boston. It won't give them a fair shot at the Celtics, but they'd get a shot nonetheless.