There have rumors for months that Kyrie Irving will consider coming to New York when he opts out of his contract this summer. But Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News suggests the Knicks may not be his destination.
Bondy writes that “some sources around the league” believe Brooklyn would be Irving’s preferred choice and cites a recent NBA TV interview by former Cavaliers GM David Griffin, who spent time with Irving in Cleveland.
“I think Brooklyn is the fit that’s better for him in terms of his mindset,” Griffin said. “I think he likes what they’ve done there, culturally.”
The Nets have a huge head start if Irving is looking for an instant contender. Brooklyn is fighting for a playoff spot at 38-38, while the Knicks are limping toward the finish line with a league-worst 14-61 record.
Brooklyn will have enough cap space to extend a max offer to Irving, while the Knicks will be able to offer two max contracts and are hoping to team Irving up with another elite free agent such as Kevin Durant. However, signing Irving would probably mean the Nets will have to part with point guard D’Angelo Russell, who will be a restricted free agent after a breakout season.
Irving promised Celtics fans in October that he would re-sign with the team. However, as losses piled up, speculation has increased that he may go back on that pledge. The Celtics’ performance in the playoffs could go a long way toward determining whether Irving will return to Boston or take his talents elsewhere.
At this point, I’d give the max to D’lo over Kyrie. He’s building this team. If they could bring Durant while keeping D’lo, that would be great.
I agree. I know it doesn’t matter a lot now since they are both young but Russell is 4 years younger too. Giving a 5 year deal to Irving takes him to almost 33. A 5 year deal for Russell is he will be 29
A champion in Kyrie, having played with & won with LBJ vs the breakout year Dlo has had.
Dlo is a goonie I’d stick with him he has really come into his own with the nets and I wouldn’t want to mess up that chemistry
I’d stick with Dlo , we don’t need him
Irving is wayyy better and has won a chip….no comparison.
The fact that he won a chip with LeBron and Love doesn’t make him more likely to be a winner in the future. D’Lo will probably look a lot better at 29 than Kyrie at 33 in five years.
I’m a die hard Celtics fan but Kyrie has turned into a cry baby this year constantly blaming his younger teammates and those around him for the teams struggles. I’m tired of his diva routine and i know many other C’s fans are too. However, every time Kyrie is out due rest or injury the team plays much better. Same thing as last years playoffs, the younger players and other people he complains about went to the conference finals WITHOUT HIM. We don’t need him to win. Maybe we can Make a trade for AD and let Kyrie walk or do a sign and trade to rid ourselves of this baby……ainge is creative and there is no way he nor brad Stevens doesn’t realize the rift Kyrie has created all season. Screw Kyrie. I’d sit his ass and start rozier and maybe give a few bench minutes a night to Kyrie until he learns to zip his mouth
Pssst. Kyrie. Go to the Nets. Or go to the Knicks. But please, just GO!
Agree and take all your drama with you! Once you sign your max elsewhere and you’re not happy again, then you and everyone else will finally realize that the only problem is you!
I so agree. Tired of hearing this, as a Celts fan, I hope Irving just goes. The team plays better without him.
Totally agree. If Kyrie wants to leave for New York let him go. Trader Danny will find a replacement for sure. It’s what he does.
All this talk about him leaving. He’s going to stay in Boston. They’ll eventually learn how to play together and will be contenders for the next few years. Media is just looking for a story.
For real there’s no way he leaves Boston they’re set up with young talent to be contenders until the end of his career no way he leaves that for a rebuilding team
I liked it when Boston was killing it with smart, rozier, brown and tatum doing it up. I like kyrie but i think he has daddy bron issues
Doubt this. Might make sense from a BB standpoint, but KI’s ties to NY Metro area run through MSG and the Knicks.
Between Russell at 20-25, and Irving at 32… actually I was talking about millions of dollars salary, not age. Anyway tough choice for the Nets.
Statistically DLo has been better than Kyle Lowry or Mike Conley ever have been PTs and Assists. So if you measure him against those two geezers making max money, the young max doesnt look so bad. 3 pts off Kyrie in scoring oer 36. But a lot cheaper over the length of the contract.
same sources as AD to LA?
There is no TEAM in Kyrie! GOOD RIDDANCE!
Kind of like saying he’d rather be eaten by a lion than a tiger.