Kyrie Noncommittal on Future with Boston in NPR Interview

[MaxAMillion]

Good for Irving...he shouldn’t commit to anything. The C’s have proven they will trade anyone. So why should Irving show loyalty to Boston. I hope every player acts the same way. Players are independent contractors...hopefully their representatives are convincing each and every player to view their employers as the impersonal entities that they truly are

[hpantazo]

new quote from Kyrie:


 
@BrianTRobb
There is plenty of speculation swirling about Kyrie Irving's future but the point guard told @bostonsportsbsj that he's excited to be a part of a championship-caliber team in Boston for 'years to come.'

https://twitter.com/BrianTRobb/status/1006229330379378688

[celticinorlando]

new quote from Kyrie:


 
@BrianTRobb
There is plenty of speculation swirling about Kyrie Irving's future but the point guard told @bostonsportsbsj that he's excited to be a part of a championship-caliber team in Boston for 'years to come.'

https://twitter.com/BrianTRobb/status/1006229330379378688

Just posted that in a different thread. Kyrie’s best situation to win titles and be the man is in Boston. Not even close.

[hpantazo]

new quote from Kyrie:


 
@BrianTRobb
There is plenty of speculation swirling about Kyrie Irving's future but the point guard told @bostonsportsbsj that he's excited to be a part of a championship-caliber team in Boston for 'years to come.'

https://twitter.com/BrianTRobb/status/1006229330379378688

Just posted that in a different thread. Kyrie’s best situation to win titles and be the man is in Boston. Not even close.

And to get paid the most money as well.

[ETNCeltics]

How many times have we seen a great player walk away from a legitimate contender, with a good lockeroom, good situation in the front office, and a max contract?

Most players who leave their current team are in a situation like Gordon Hayward or Al Horford, where they don't feel they have a chance to compete. Or like Lebron with a crumbling roster and a now-questionable organization. It happens, but not very often.

Especially in the NBA. Every good team is never more than a year or two from having a key player in free agency. Look at GSW, Durant is a FA now, Klay is a year from now, Green is in 2 years. It's the way of the league now. Having good YOUNG players puts us in such a great position relative to almost every other team in the league. Instead of relishing our status and looking forward to a potential contending team in 2019, some of you have chosen to wring your hands and bash Kyrie. Looks mostly like the same ole Isaiah Thomas butthurt fanclub.

[pearljammer10]

https://twitter.com/SopanDeb/status/1005273144901492736



Have to say, while I don't put much stock in the Mannix report given that it was made in a different context while he was in Cleveland, this certainly worries me.

Stars that want to stay and be the face of the franchise are not usually this noncommital about their current team being a long-term destination. I don't expect him to categorically say he is resigning in Boston, but Kyrie saying that he has to "take it as being present with the Boston Celtics" and not having a "better, clear" answer right now is really concerning to me.

As good as Lebron is and with all of this uncertainty around Kyrie resigning, I think that if you have the chance to nab Lebron in some type of three-way trade with Kyrie, you have to do it.

Is anyone really surprised?

and how much value can you really get for a non committal player anyways

Trade Irving for Leonard a fan screams on twitter?  Spurs hang up the phone

Trading Irving to the obvious destination is an option ...... but better to keep him at the end of the day

Obvious destination = Knicks for 2018 9th pick,  Frank Ntilikina and future 1st

Definitely, with those assets going to Cleveland alongside Kanter and Lebron coming here. 

Why would the Celts need to give up those good to the Cavs when Lebron is a FA?

Because he can opt in, be traded, and sign a max contract worth more money and years with the new team he is traded to as opposed to going to a different team now in FA for less years and less money.

[sdceltsfan]

Seems difficult/unfair to fully judge or gauge Kyries true colors considering how the end of the year went down. We were competing for the #1 seed under his lead, even without Hayward. THAT'S how good he is. Imagine the emotional letdown he went through when he didn't even actually injure himself, but was told to shut it down to fix the old surgery? Then watching the team HE was leading, fight all the way to the ECF against his old team.

He wanted to be out there! It must have been a really terrible feeling, and even the best player would maybe doubt themselves/their future, seeing the team do as well as they did without him.

All it will take is running it back with a healthy Irving and Hayward and absolutely dominating, for Kyrie to see the value of staying as the PG/Locker-room leader of this franchise.

[Tr1boy]

new quote from Kyrie:


 
@BrianTRobb
There is plenty of speculation swirling about Kyrie Irving's future but the point guard told @bostonsportsbsj that he's excited to be a part of a championship-caliber team in Boston for 'years to come.'

https://twitter.com/BrianTRobb/status/1006229330379378688

He said something similar about Hayward

Until Irving signs the extension... I'm going to stay neutral

[RJ87]

Danny will turn over all rocks this offseason

He is ruthless and has no loyalty except to the Celtics

And this is exactly why people need to calm down about what Kyrie says or didn't say or might think. We want players to profess their love and desire to be here forever and ever, meanwhile GMs will trade them in a hot second. It's in the franchise's best interest to keep all options open, and it's in the player's best interest to keep all of his options open. At the end of the day, this is a business and people on both sides will make the best decision for them.

We saw this just recently with Isaiah Thomas. Stop expecting undying loyalty from players unless you're going to hold GM's to the fire the same way.

[Moranis]

Seems difficult/unfair to fully judge or gauge Kyries true colors considering how the end of the year went down. We were competing for the #1 seed under his lead, even without Hayward. THAT'S how good he is. Imagine the emotional letdown he went through when he didn't even actually injure himself, but was told to shut it down to fix the old surgery? Then watching the team HE was leading, fight all the way to the ECF against his old team.

He wanted to be out there! It must have been a really terrible feeling, and even the best player would maybe doubt themselves/their future, seeing the team do as well as they did without him.

All it will take is running it back with a healthy Irving and Hayward and absolutely dominating, for Kyrie to see the value of staying as the PG/Locker-room leader of this franchise.

Boston was 41-19 with Irving and 14-8 without him (and a lot of those games don't have Smart).  That 41-19 with him of course includes the 16-2 start to the season (well 15-2 since Irving missed one of those games) and Boston was just 6-6 in the last 12 games Irving played.  So overall without Irving Boston was on a 52 win pace, with him a 56 win pace (again including the crazy unsustainable start).  I get that the sample size is a bit small, but there is at least pretty credible evidence that Irving really didn't make all that much difference to this team.  After all, Boston was 1 win away from the NBA Finals without him.  And with all the turmoil in Cleveland, they only won 1 less game then the prior year with Irving and still had the pleasure of getting hammered by Golden State in the Finals (obviously they struggled more throughout the playoffs to get there).

I'm just not convinced Irving is what many on this board think he is.  He is an all time great ball handler and a very good shooter, but he isn't a great passer, rebounder, and he is quite simply an awful defender.  he is careless and wreckless with the ball, and is often aloof, both on and off the court.  IMO, he is just not a #1 player, never has been, and never will be.  Don't get me wrong, he is way better than Rozier, but I wouldn't hesitate to move on from Irving in the right type of trade.

[The One]

That was a horrid answer for someone that believes he will be here long term.  He should have said something like this.

Obviously I'm a free agent next summer and things can change but I have every intention of signing a new contract in Boston and ending my career as a Celtic.

The fact that he didn't say something like that is absolutely a concern.

But his answer did fit his personality. We can't read too much into it.

You’re both right.

I'm with you fellas!

[The One]

Seems difficult/unfair to fully judge or gauge Kyries true colors considering how the end of the year went down. We were competing for the #1 seed under his lead, even without Hayward. THAT'S how good he is. Imagine the emotional letdown he went through when he didn't even actually injure himself, but was told to shut it down to fix the old surgery? Then watching the team HE was leading, fight all the way to the ECF against his old team.

He wanted to be out there! It must have been a really terrible feeling, and even the best player would maybe doubt themselves/their future, seeing the team do as well as they did without him.

All it will take is running it back with a healthy Irving and Hayward and absolutely dominating, for Kyrie to see the value of staying as the PG/Locker-room leader of this franchise.

Boston was 41-19 with Irving and 14-8 without him (and a lot of those games don't have Smart).  That 41-19 with him of course includes the 16-2 start to the season (well 15-2 since Irving missed one of those games) and Boston was just 6-6 in the last 12 games Irving played.  So overall without Irving Boston was on a 52 win pace, with him a 56 win pace (again including the crazy unsustainable start).  I get that the sample size is a bit small, but there is at least pretty credible evidence that Irving really didn't make all that much difference to this team.  After all, Boston was 1 win away from the NBA Finals without him.  And with all the turmoil in Cleveland, they only won 1 less game then the prior year with Irving and still had the pleasure of getting hammered by Golden State in the Finals (obviously they struggled more throughout the playoffs to get there).

I'm just not convinced Irving is what many on this board think he is.  He is an all time great ball handler and a very good shooter, but he isn't a great passer, rebounder, and he is quite simply an awful defender.  he is careless and wreckless with the ball, and is often aloof, both on and off the court.  IMO, he is just not a #1 player, never has been, and never will be.  Don't get me wrong, he is way better than Rozier, but I wouldn't hesitate to move on from Irving in the right type of trade.

With Kyrie, I'm not worried about regular season...he is a playoff KILLER.

He can score consistently when the best playoff defenses are trying to stop him.

That quality...does not grow on trees.

[celticinorlando]

Seems difficult/unfair to fully judge or gauge Kyries true colors considering how the end of the year went down. We were competing for the #1 seed under his lead, even without Hayward. THAT'S how good he is. Imagine the emotional letdown he went through when he didn't even actually injure himself, but was told to shut it down to fix the old surgery? Then watching the team HE was leading, fight all the way to the ECF against his old team.

He wanted to be out there! It must have been a really terrible feeling, and even the best player would maybe doubt themselves/their future, seeing the team do as well as they did without him.

All it will take is running it back with a healthy Irving and Hayward and absolutely dominating, for Kyrie to see the value of staying as the PG/Locker-room leader of this franchise.

Boston was 41-19 with Irving and 14-8 without him (and a lot of those games don't have Smart).  That 41-19 with him of course includes the 16-2 start to the season (well 15-2 since Irving missed one of those games) and Boston was just 6-6 in the last 12 games Irving played.  So overall without Irving Boston was on a 52 win pace, with him a 56 win pace (again including the crazy unsustainable start).  I get that the sample size is a bit small, but there is at least pretty credible evidence that Irving really didn't make all that much difference to this team.  After all, Boston was 1 win away from the NBA Finals without him.  And with all the turmoil in Cleveland, they only won 1 less game then the prior year with Irving and still had the pleasure of getting hammered by Golden State in the Finals (obviously they struggled more throughout the playoffs to get there).

I'm just not convinced Irving is what many on this board think he is.  He is an all time great ball handler and a very good shooter, but he isn't a great passer, rebounder, and he is quite simply an awful defender.  he is careless and wreckless with the ball, and is often aloof, both on and off the court.  IMO, he is just not a #1 player, never has been, and never will be.  Don't get me wrong, he is way better than Rozier, but I wouldn't hesitate to move on from Irving in the right type of trade.

With Kyrie, I'm not worried about regular season...he is a playoff KILLER.

He can score consistently when the best playoff defenses are trying to stop him.

That quality...does not grow on trees.

TP...and with the emergence of Rozier Kyrie can sit more and have his minutes limited if needed so he is READY to kill in the playoffs.

[Moranis]

Seems difficult/unfair to fully judge or gauge Kyries true colors considering how the end of the year went down. We were competing for the #1 seed under his lead, even without Hayward. THAT'S how good he is. Imagine the emotional letdown he went through when he didn't even actually injure himself, but was told to shut it down to fix the old surgery? Then watching the team HE was leading, fight all the way to the ECF against his old team.

He wanted to be out there! It must have been a really terrible feeling, and even the best player would maybe doubt themselves/their future, seeing the team do as well as they did without him.

All it will take is running it back with a healthy Irving and Hayward and absolutely dominating, for Kyrie to see the value of staying as the PG/Locker-room leader of this franchise.

Boston was 41-19 with Irving and 14-8 without him (and a lot of those games don't have Smart).  That 41-19 with him of course includes the 16-2 start to the season (well 15-2 since Irving missed one of those games) and Boston was just 6-6 in the last 12 games Irving played.  So overall without Irving Boston was on a 52 win pace, with him a 56 win pace (again including the crazy unsustainable start).  I get that the sample size is a bit small, but there is at least pretty credible evidence that Irving really didn't make all that much difference to this team.  After all, Boston was 1 win away from the NBA Finals without him.  And with all the turmoil in Cleveland, they only won 1 less game then the prior year with Irving and still had the pleasure of getting hammered by Golden State in the Finals (obviously they struggled more throughout the playoffs to get there).

I'm just not convinced Irving is what many on this board think he is.  He is an all time great ball handler and a very good shooter, but he isn't a great passer, rebounder, and he is quite simply an awful defender.  he is careless and wreckless with the ball, and is often aloof, both on and off the court.  IMO, he is just not a #1 player, never has been, and never will be.  Don't get me wrong, he is way better than Rozier, but I wouldn't hesitate to move on from Irving in the right type of trade.

With Kyrie, I'm not worried about regular season...he is a playoff KILLER.

He can score consistently when the best playoff defenses are trying to stop him.

That quality...does not grow on trees.

Sure, but let's remember in 2017, Kyrie had 8 games in the playoffs where he shot 41.7% or worse (4 of those games he was 16.7% or under from 3).  He only had 2 games with at least 10 assists and only had 2 games with more than 5 rebounds.  He can do wonderful things with the ball in his hand, but he also has that gunner's mentality where no shot is a bad shot and when the shot isn't falling he is pretty worthless everywhere else on the floor.

[celticinorlando]

Seems difficult/unfair to fully judge or gauge Kyries true colors considering how the end of the year went down. We were competing for the #1 seed under his lead, even without Hayward. THAT'S how good he is. Imagine the emotional letdown he went through when he didn't even actually injure himself, but was told to shut it down to fix the old surgery? Then watching the team HE was leading, fight all the way to the ECF against his old team.

He wanted to be out there! It must have been a really terrible feeling, and even the best player would maybe doubt themselves/their future, seeing the team do as well as they did without him.

All it will take is running it back with a healthy Irving and Hayward and absolutely dominating, for Kyrie to see the value of staying as the PG/Locker-room leader of this franchise.

Boston was 41-19 with Irving and 14-8 without him (and a lot of those games don't have Smart).  That 41-19 with him of course includes the 16-2 start to the season (well 15-2 since Irving missed one of those games) and Boston was just 6-6 in the last 12 games Irving played.  So overall without Irving Boston was on a 52 win pace, with him a 56 win pace (again including the crazy unsustainable start).  I get that the sample size is a bit small, but there is at least pretty credible evidence that Irving really didn't make all that much difference to this team.  After all, Boston was 1 win away from the NBA Finals without him.  And with all the turmoil in Cleveland, they only won 1 less game then the prior year with Irving and still had the pleasure of getting hammered by Golden State in the Finals (obviously they struggled more throughout the playoffs to get there).

I'm just not convinced Irving is what many on this board think he is.  He is an all time great ball handler and a very good shooter, but he isn't a great passer, rebounder, and he is quite simply an awful defender.  he is careless and wreckless with the ball, and is often aloof, both on and off the court.  IMO, he is just not a #1 player, never has been, and never will be.  Don't get me wrong, he is way better than Rozier, but I wouldn't hesitate to move on from Irving in the right type of trade.

With Kyrie, I'm not worried about regular season...he is a playoff KILLER.

He can score consistently when the best playoff defenses are trying to stop him.

That quality...does not grow on trees.

Sure, but let's remember in 2017, Kyrie had 8 games in the playoffs where he shot 41.7% or worse (4 of those games he was 16.7% or under from 3).  He only had 2 games with at least 10 assists and only had 2 games with more than 5 rebounds.  He can do wonderful things with the ball in his hand, but he also has that gunner's mentality where no shot is a bad shot and when the shot isn't falling he is pretty worthless everywhere else on the floor.

He had to get his shots from James!!