I think Kyrie is not a good leader. Screaming at Hayward on the Court. Publicly complaining about not getting the ball in one end of game situation. Making it clear that he thinks the young guns are not playing well earlier this season (which I have less of a problem with but still don't get why he handled publicly).
But regarding the contract thing, a leader thinks through his actions. Kyrie now admits that he made his comments about definitely coming back to the fans because he was caught up in the moment. How immature is that? It reminds me of what a HS kid would do (not that he has anywhere to sign, but directionally). It's certainly not the hallmark of what I would consider to be a good leader.
And now he's hedging and publicly saying that Boston is in the lead but you never know, etc. Why? I mean, truth is a good reply, but before we discuss what he should have said, what exactly changed?
That the team is not as good as he had hoped? Work to make it better; certainly don't give up after half a season, when the emotions are still running high. That Hayward is going to take longer than expected to regain his game and might not ever? I mean it sucks but some players just take longer and Hayward WAS an all star and Kryie DID want him. To possibly write him off now seems premature. That Danny and he are clashing? Not that I know any of that to a certainty and he could be fine with Gordon and Danny. But something changed, and I'm offering possible answers (other than the first one, which Kyrie noted) and it strikes me that none of it is sufficient to warrant a leader changing his tune mid season.
As to what he should have said, I guess I would have preferred less if he was unable to just say "nothing has changed." Now every word is going to be dissected and the controversy and distraction he said he doesn't want had gas thrown all over it. If he could not say "nothing has changed," then a simple "I'm totally focused on winning this year and will deal with my career when it's over" would have been preferred. Not ideal by any means, but better than what he said.
Some will say and have said that he would be damned if he did or damned if he didn't. But having opened up his mouth without thinking it through already, he put himself squarely in this position, so here we are.
PS: I also don't actually believe him now. If it's true that Davis says Boston is not a preferred destination and that he and Kyrie are friends, it follows that Kyrie has told Davis what he intends and it's not Boston. Another hallmark of good leadership is not getting caught in lies so easily. Now I may not have it right, I well know, but that's how it looks to me.