I am really unclear why people keep raising this Lakers thing that has two major problems
1) Kyrie wants to be the top banana. This was even reported as a potential issue with him and Durant signing in New York. He wanted to be the guy that signed first. I don't know how people can just ignore this major aspect of his personality that has been consistent for years, and think he is going to go literally play third banana to Davis and Lebron. Anything is possible, but this would be far and away the most surprising thing to happen in basketball in the last few years.
2) They don't currently have a max slot for kyrie, so kyrie would take a significant paycut on what may be the biggest contract of his year (he has also said he doesn't want to play forever, so this could be close to the end for him). Why would he take a pay cut to play third banana?
If he wanted to be top banana, why leave? It just doesn’t make sense to go someplace worse off and expect better results. If Davis doesn’t take the kicker (Klutch will get him that money back), they will be pretty close, he could sign a 1+1 or whatever to get his mega contract next summer.
If what you’re saying is true, leaving Boston makes zero sense. He would get far and away the most money here, and can remain top banana.
The whole NYC thing about who would sign first was complete and utter nonsense, with absolutely zero credibility. Not a single person reporting it could have that information.
I think he’s prepared to take a backseat to whomever he pairs up with. He’s not a leader, and his stint in Boston proved it (hence his unecessarily-publicized apology to LeBron).
Why would Irving stay in Boston and expect different results ? He does not fit on or off the court. His playing style clashes with what the team was doing and he is a complete whack.
If he committed to Boston, I think it’s pretty obvious Ainge would’ve went in on AD. It would have still been “his” team, he gets his supermax, and the team dynamic changes with a player like AD.
For him to return now, he would have to drastically change his playing style and expectations.
I don’t think either party wants to continue this experiment, so it’s a moot point.