Kyrie speculation

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Despite his statements to the contrary, Kyrie flight has always been a real risk. If this is even remotely true, Ainge has to be thinking about moving him now. To be clear, I am not saying that the C's should trade him but if they can turn Irving into some younger assets to pair with Tatum and Brown, they have to consider it. There is even a scenario where they trade Kyrie and are still able to compete deep into the playoffs too.

However the reality is, barring an injury to their competition, its going to be hard for this C's squad to get out of the East, let alone hang with Golden State in the finals. Furthermore, if Irving is gone, the chances of the C's getting and retaining Davis go way down. To me, the C's hanging on to Kyrie only to see him bolt during the summer is a far worse outcome than getting something in return for him now.
 

lovegtm

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Despite his statements to the contrary, Kyrie flight has always been a real risk. If this is even remotely true, Ainge has to be thinking about moving him now. To be clear, I am not saying that the C's should trade him but if they can turn Irving into some younger assets to pair with Tatum and Brown, they have to consider it. There is even a scenario where they trade Kyrie and are still able to compete deep into the playoffs too.

However the reality is, barring an injury to their competition, its going to be hard for this C's squad to get out of the East, let alone hang with Golden State in the finals. Furthermore, if Irving is gone, the chances of the C's getting and retaining Davis go way down. To me, the C's hanging on to Kyrie only to see him bolt during the summer is a far worse outcome than getting something in return for him now.
Agree with all the above. This is where you need to have good communication lines with Kyrie's reps. Building around Tatum/Brown/Smart/Rozier/picks and whatever you get for Kyrie is far from the worst future, and might accelerate everyone's development.

Which teams would trade for Kyrie, given his flight risk? The Lakers would just wait it out if they think they're getting him.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Which teams would trade for Kyrie, given his flight risk? The Lakers would just wait it out if they think they're getting him.
Knicks and Nets seem to be the primary trade targets, if they think they're best shot of getting a star is to trade for one like Kyrie and convince him to re-up after the season. Not sure what packages would make sense though, and I don't see the Nets trading future draft picks to the Celtics again.
 

lovegtm

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Knicks and Nets seem to be the primary trade targets, if they think they're best shot of getting a star is to trade for one like Kyrie and convince him to re-up after the season. Not sure what packages would make sense though, and I don't see the Nets trading future draft picks to the Celtics again.
If Kyrie doesn't clearly signal he's staying, and the Knicks would do their pick this year unprotected, I'd be really tempted.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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If Kyrie doesn't clearly signal he's staying, and the Knicks would do their pick this year unprotected, I'd be really tempted.
If Ainge thinks Kyrie is gone, you do this in a Bias heartbeat


...But why would the Knicks do it? Makes no sense for them.
 

NomarsFool

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If you are Kyrie, why would you want the Celtics to trade you now? So, you spend the rest of the season on a lousy, non-playoff team. Then, that team you just joined is worse, because they traded at least some of their assets to the Celtics. If Kyrie really wants to play somewhere besides Boston next season, his best bet is to just hold tight, say nothing, and leave at the end of the season.
 

DJnVa

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Here's the thing--don't make a fucking commercial with your dad in the Garden talking about wanting the Celtics to retire your number. Don't pop your shirt saying BOSTON on it last week after a win.

If this is true...and I stress the *if* then it seems like as soon as things don't go smoothly (Hayward hurt and slow comeback, etc.) he wants to bail.

After addressing the crowd on fan appreciation night to say he wanted to stay, one would think he'd address this now.
 

lovegtm

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If you are Kyrie, why would you want the Celtics to trade you now? So, you spend the rest of the season on a lousy, non-playoff team. Then, that team you just joined is worse, because they traded at least some of their assets to the Celtics. If Kyrie really wants to play somewhere besides Boston next season, his best bet is to just hold tight, say nothing, and leave at the end of the season.
Players are human, and even if it's in their best interest to stay completely quiet, they'll sometimes crack and give away hints in the form of the non-answers or denials they give.

I want to stress: I think this is very, very likely just Klutch or other outside leaking to try to weaken the Celtics' position. It's fun to game out all the scenarios though.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Someone needs to explain to me why we can't trade for Anthony Davis right now, but somehow, the Lakers can sign Lebron James, trade for Anthony Davis and then sign Kyrie Irving in a 12 month span?

The NBA CBA is a complicated clusterfuck that will only lead to less and less parity.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Here's the thing--don't make a fucking commercial with your dad in the Garden talking about wanting the Celtics to retire your number. Don't pop your shirt saying BOSTON on it last week after a win.

If this is true...and I stress the *if* then it seems like as soon as things don't go smoothly (Hayward hurt and slow comeback, etc.) he wants to bail.

After addressing the crowd on fan appreciation night to say he wanted to stay, one would think he'd address this now.
As others have noted, this story needs to be discounted by a lot. The timing smells and as was observed above, if Kyrie wants to leave, he risks spending the rest of this season somewhere worse than Boston.

If he and his people aren't already aware, Ainge may be the most cold blooded executive in sports. I have no doubt he would explore an Irving trade at the first sign that he is gone after the season.
 

teddykgb

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Someone needs to explain to me why we can't trade for Anthony Davis right now, but somehow, the Lakers can sign Lebron James, trade for Anthony Davis and then sign Kyrie Irving in a 12 month span?

The NBA CBA is a complicated clusterfuck that will only lead to less and less parity.
I’m sure the NBA refs have something to do with it. Along with the cabal against Jaylen Brown

(In case it isn’t clear, this is said in loving jest)
 

BigSoxFan

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As others have noted, this story needs to be discounted by a lot. The timing smells and as was observed above, if Kyrie wants to leave, he risks spending the rest of this season somewhere worse than Boston.

If he and his people aren't already aware, Ainge may be the most cold blooded executive in sports. I have no doubt he would explore an Irving trade at the first sign that he is gone after the season.
I think odds of Kyrie getting traded are incredibly low but I do also wonder what his value would be. Probably not that high given that his list of realistic FA suitors is so small.
 

mcpickl

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Well, I said "if," but I've watched every minute of every game, and I can't remember a single time Gordon Hayward or Terry Rozier took advantage of an opponent because the opponent had played a lot of minutes. Shit, if Gordon and Terry have an advantage because of their fresher legs, then it's worse than I thought. You're saying it could be worse?
Gordon or Terry wouldn't be the guys taking advantage of a more tired opponent though, right?

It would be the Celtics closers who've played less minutes than the opponents closers.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I think odds of Kyrie getting traded are incredibly low but I do also wonder what his value would be. Probably not that high given that his list of realistic FA suitors is so small.
I agree - its not clear. Why would anyone give up value for the guy if Boston is trading him - the centerpiece of their current team - now? As was noted upthread, the Lakers aren't going to trade for him so that leaves someone gambling that they get him and he stays. I mean, maybe a team like Denver might kick the tires or perhaps Utah might bite. Short of that, its hard to see any fits from either side and I was straining in that case.
 

Deathofthebambino

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I agree - its not clear. Why would anyone give up value for the guy if Boston is trading him - the centerpiece of their current team - now? As was noted upthread, the Lakers aren't going to trade for him so that leaves someone gambling that they get him and he stays. I mean, maybe a team like Denver might kick the tires or perhaps Utah might bite. Short of that, its hard to see any fits from either side and I was straining in that case.
Again, I say this as someone who knows virtually nothing about the NBA trade/salary cap lunacy, but what about a team like Minnesota? Pairing Kyrie up with Wiggins and Towns, with Derrick Rose going back to a 6th man role could turn them into at least a decent playoff contender for a year. If they offer Okogie, and an unprotected 2020 1st rounder (presumably could be pretty decent if Kyrie takes off after the season), would you consider that?

Or here's one that's out of the box. San Antonio. I can't imagine Pop wants to be coaching at this stage just for the privilege of getting blown out by Golden State, at best. Aren't you the Derrick White fan? What if you can get him back in a trade? Would Pop do it to try and make a run at the Warriors with Kyrie, Derozan and Aldridge? I imagine every season that doesn't end in a championship is a bust from Pop's perspective at this point, and Kyrie gets them a whole lot closer to that this year than they are right now.
 

mcpickl

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Ric Bucher?

Way to try and still relevant Ric.

One of the last dudes I'd look to for breaking news.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Again, I say this as someone who knows virtually nothing about the NBA trade/salary cap lunacy, but what about a team like Minnesota? Pairing Kyrie up with Wiggins and Towns, with Derrick Rose going back to a 6th man role could turn them into at least a decent playoff contender for a year. If they offer Okogie, and an unprotected 2020 1st rounder (presumably could be pretty decent if Kyrie takes off after the season), would you consider that?

Or here's one that's out of the box. San Antonio. I can't imagine Pop wants to be coaching at this stage just for the privilege of getting blown out by Golden State, at best. Aren't you the Derrick White fan? What if you can get him back in a trade? Would Pop do it to try and make a run at the Warriors with Kyrie, Derozan and Aldridge? I imagine every season that doesn't end in a championship is a bust from Pop's perspective at this point, and Kyrie gets them a whole lot closer to that this year than they are right now.
Minnesota is interesting as is San Antonio because, as you point out, Irving improves them in the now. The question I have is, once again, to what end? Maybe the T-Wolves make the playoffs and maybe Irving gets the Spurs a bit deeper in the West. But what sort of value would either give up for those outcomes? Furthermore, I am not sure either can offer that Ainge might want.

Assuming this story is legitimate - and that is a huge leap - I could see Ainge doing some outside the box moves where he ships Kyrie out for a combination of high upside younger players and future picks and then trades another piece for his replacement (e.g. Kemba). The main point is that there are no obvious fits if Irving is a goner but, again, I would expect Ainge to be very aggressive. The one thing I am thankful for as a Cs fan is that Danny doesn't screw around.
 

DannyDarwinism

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FWIW Jackie MacMullen laughed at the rumors.
Laughed and said it’s coming from Rich Paul. Jackie is as plugged in with Kyrie (and the Celtics FO for that matter) as any reporter, so it’s worth a good bit more than Ric Bucher. Cui bono, yo.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Ric Bucher?

Way to try and still relevant Ric.

One of the last dudes I'd look to for breaking news.
Agreed but someone planted that story. It may well be the Forces of Klutch but if its being done without Kyrie's knowledge, LeBron...er, Paul risks alienating Irving. As with all the stories around the trade deadline, everyone has an agenda. While I could see the intent being to drive a wedge between Kyrie and the Cs, it could just as easily backfire. They are essentially messing with another man's money.
 

Gash Prex

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Of course it’s Rich Paul and/or someone with the Lakers - it’s complete FUD.

He is resigning here and he’s announced it. The rest is just unnamed FUD for Davis to Lakers to happen at the trade deadline.
 

Jimbodandy

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We won't have Jackie to stomp on every plant story that pops for the next 10 days. Hopefully we can keep this particular one in mind before trekking to the Tobin when the next one drops.
 

Red Averages

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If this was the stock market we’d be calling this the easiest fade ever.

Not buying it. A clear planted story.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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Story is probably garbage but I’ve always been wary of Kyrie. He’s a strange guy and clearly marches to his own beat so I have a hard time taking the things he says as gospel. It has been a tough season and I wouldn’t be surprised if things aren’t as rosy in Kyrie’s mind as they were on fan appreciation day before the season started. I have no doubt that Danny wouldn’t hesitate to move him if he had the feeling he was going to bolt.

Speculation aside, I’ve never really been a big Kyrie fan. I LOVE his game and think he’s the best pure scorer I’ve ever seen in green but I’ve never been a huge fan of Kyrie the personality. I have a sick fantasy that involves Kyrie getting moved and the starter Rozier + Jays squad runs it back but this time makes the Finals. Obviously we’re better with Kyrie but for whatever reason that squad seems more fun to watch.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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We’re flipping out over a Bucher report???

Bwahaha. People need to simmer. Why the f would Kyrie want to go back to play with an old LeBron he demanded a trade to get away from?
 

Big John

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It's Ainge's job to know if the reports are accurate. He has direct access to Kyrie and his agent; we don't.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Again, I say this as someone who knows virtually nothing about the NBA trade/salary cap lunacy, but what about a team like Minnesota? Pairing Kyrie up with Wiggins and Towns, with Derrick Rose going back to a 6th man role could turn them into at least a decent playoff contender for a year. If they offer Okogie, and an unprotected 2020 1st rounder (presumably could be pretty decent if Kyrie takes off after the season), would you consider that?

Or here's one that's out of the box. San Antonio. I can't imagine Pop wants to be coaching at this stage just for the privilege of getting blown out by Golden State, at best. Aren't you the Derrick White fan? What if you can get him back in a trade? Would Pop do it to try and make a run at the Warriors with Kyrie, Derozan and Aldridge? I imagine every season that doesn't end in a championship is a bust from Pop's perspective at this point, and Kyrie gets them a whole lot closer to that this year than they are right now.
If Kyrie really wants out than the obvious trade target is New Orleans, or rather 3-way deal with AD coming to Boston, Kyrie going somewhere, and Boston and that team sending goodies to N.O..
 

StuckOnYouk

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If I were covering the Celtics, I'd just ask Kyrie next time I see him if he still feels the same way he did when he announced that he wanted to re-sign with the Celtics. Regardless of his answer you'd have yourself a nice little story....or a bigger one.
 

camneely

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Yeah, I don’t believe that article for a second. Sounds like a Klutch plant. Klutch represents Marcus Morris so Rich Paul technically is a “source close to the Celtics”.
Caveat: this is completely speculative.

But another possibility is that these stories are being leaked by Kyrie's side to put pressure on Ainge and the front-office. Irving may have been sold on Boston's viability as a championship contender based on a plan to spin their young players and draft assets into another legit star, or AD specifically. If it turns out that AD's going to force his way to LA, Kyrie's estimation of the Celtics' chances at a title, both this season and in the coming years, might have dimmed.

Despite taking on the 'team leader' label, he's never seemed that interested in, or comfortable with, nurturing inexperienced players. Dude wants to win, now. He's publicly stated on a few occasions that the team needs more veteran leadership, and after the Orlando game a few weeks ago that "the young guys" don't know what it takes to win a championship. Maybe he's leveraging his commitment to the franchise to push Ainge into cashing out some of those assets and getting him some help?

But that's a lot of ifs, and it'd probably be easier to just tell Ainge himself rather than drop hints via the media, so maybe not.

In any event, a team with max money tied up in an aging Horford and a thus far ineffective Hayward just might not be as attractive moving forward as a team with that money invested in LBJ and AD.
 

RedOctober3829

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Caveat: this is completely speculative.

But another possibility is that these stories are being leaked by Kyrie's side to put pressure on Ainge and the front-office. Irving may have been sold on Boston's viability as a championship contender based on a plan to spin their young players and draft assets into another legit star, or AD specifically. If it turns out that AD's going to force his way to LA, Kyrie's estimation of the Celtics' chances at a title, both this season and in the coming years, might have dimmed.

Despite taking on the 'team leader' label, he's never seemed that interested in, or comfortable with, nurturing inexperienced players. Dude wants to win, now. He's publicly stated on a few occasions that the team needs more veteran leadership, and after the Orlando game a few weeks ago that "the young guys" don't know what it takes to win a championship. Maybe he's leveraging his commitment to the franchise to push Ainge into cashing out some of those assets and getting him some help?

But that's a lot of ifs, and it'd probably be easier to just tell Ainge himself rather than drop hints via the media, so maybe not.

In any event, a team with max money tied up in an aging Horford and a thus far ineffective Hayward just might not be as attractive moving forward as a team with that money invested in LBJ and AD.
It’s been known publicly for years that Ainge covets AD. This is what he’s been stockpiling assets for. I’d think Kyrie knows Danny is going to make a run at him and also knows it can’t happen until July.
 

BigSoxFan

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Caveat: this is completely speculative.

But another possibility is that these stories are being leaked by Kyrie's side to put pressure on Ainge and the front-office. Irving may have been sold on Boston's viability as a championship contender based on a plan to spin their young players and draft assets into another legit star, or AD specifically. If it turns out that AD's going to force his way to LA, Kyrie's estimation of the Celtics' chances at a title, both this season and in the coming years, might have dimmed.

Despite taking on the 'team leader' label, he's never seemed that interested in, or comfortable with, nurturing inexperienced players. Dude wants to win, now. He's publicly stated on a few occasions that the team needs more veteran leadership, and after the Orlando game a few weeks ago that "the young guys" don't know what it takes to win a championship. Maybe he's leveraging his commitment to the franchise to push Ainge into cashing out some of those assets and getting him some help?

But that's a lot of ifs, and it'd probably be easier to just tell Ainge himself rather than drop hints via the media, so maybe not.

In any event, a team with max money tied up in an aging Horford and a thus far ineffective Hayward just might not be as attractive moving forward as a team with that money invested in LBJ and AD.
Not sure I see it. Ainge doesn’t need pressure from Kyrie to go after AD. He literally can’t trade for him right now without trading Kyrie. If AD is still out there this summer, Ainge will be going after him with everything he’s got. Trading any assets now doesn’t make any sense and I’m sure Kyrie gets that.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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We’re flipping out over a Bucher report???

Bwahaha. People need to simmer. Why the f would Kyrie want to go back to play with an old LeBron he demanded a trade to get away from?
I don't see anyone flipping out. I don't think anyone needs to simmer either. YRMV.

That said, given how the Celtics season has gone relative to expectations (unrealistic ones it appears) as well the reports of a reconciliation of sorts between Kyrie and LeBron, the story isn't as implausible as you are painting it. Regardless of his statements, there is non-zero chance that Kyrie decides not to re-up with Boston at the end of the season.

As a side note, its Superbowl media week and Goodell & company trots out cliche-spewing players excepting Gronk who trafficked in some PG-13 humor and the NFL made news by playing into Barstool's hands and kicking some of their guys out of a press area. Meanwhile between the Davis story and all the other potential threads, Adam Silver & the NBA says "hold my beer...".