Does Kyrie Leave in The Summer If We Don't Improve?

[celticsclay]

I am not really worried about it. He likes Brad, likes the city and it his team. I am a bit perplexed that some think he would want to play with a superstar like Durant on a new team and take a backseat after that was the entire reason he wanted out of Cleveland. Why would he do that? I believe he thinks he could win the championship as a team's best player and i think he could be right. 

[KGs Knee]

I think at this point Kyrie is invested in proving he can be 'the man' here. I get the impression he'll take it personally if the team doesn't achieve its goals.

[Csfan1984]

I also think NYK have a shot at him but that's about the only team. If that team adds Butler or Kawhi I could see Irving joining them. Feel Irving wants to be on a big three kind of team. C's have too many mouth's to feed and a coach that can't settle on a rotation.

[slamtheking]

pretty confident he stays.
- we have Al whose shown to still be an invaluable presence on the court.
- Hayward will have had a year post-injury under his belt.  fingers crossed he shows some real improvement as we get closer to the playoffs
- we still have Tatum and Brown under contract.  Williams is looking like a decent prospect.
- we have Smart to take the tough backcourt defensive assignments from him
- we have the inside shot at keeping Morris who's looked really good this year.
- we have possibly 4 picks in the draft this year to add to the talent pile
- we should still have Baynes and probably Theis for next year's team

- only player getting real minutes that we'd figure to lose (barring a trade) for next year is Rozier.  We're looking pretty solid for next year but being a contender does hinge on Hayward's recovery unfortunately (or a trade for Davis).

[nickagneta]

He is staying. The thought that he would give up long term success here simply because we struggled this year is kind of nuts. He knows how good the coaching and front office is here. He knows how much talent is on this team. He likes his fellow players.

Players sign contracts for long term and base their decisions on long term. They don't base decisions of contracts on the fact that their team should have won 5 games more than they did win over the first half of a season.

[celticsclay]

He is staying. The thought that he would give up long term success here simply because we struggled this year is kind of nuts. He knows how good the coaching and front office is here. He knows how much talent is on this team. He likes his fellow players.

Players sign contracts for long term and base their decisions on long term. They don't base decisions of contracts on the fact that their team should have won 5 games more than they did win over the first half of a season.

Agreed 100%

[jambr380]

I think he stays. I think he’s seen enough of the organization to know that if things don’t work out Danny will make changes to build a team around him. It’s a longer term play he has in mind I think.

This can't be understated. Also, he won't have as much of an organizational role as say Lebron did with the Cavs, but I think he feels his voice can be heard in Boston.

In addition, he is the 'first' star here and, if we do win (even after acquiring AD), he will still garner much of the credit since it is 'his' team. He knows that joining up with Durant or Butler in some other random city won't bring anywhere near the respect he would get in Boston - a place to where he was traded. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy who wants to bounce around from city to city every couple of years.

[Moranis]

I think he stays. I think he’s seen enough of the organization to know that if things don’t work out Danny will make changes to build a team around him. It’s a longer term play he has in mind I think.

This can't be understated. Also, he won't have as much of an organizational role as say Lebron did with the Cavs, but I think he feels his voice can be heard in Boston.

In addition, he is the 'first' star here and, if we do win (even after acquiring AD), he will still garner much of the credit since it is 'his' team. He knows that joining up with Durant or Butler in some other random city won't bring anywhere near the respect he would get in Boston - a place to where he was traded. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy who wants to bounce around from city to city every couple of years.

Does he know that Danny will make changes to build the team around him or that those changes will involve Danny trading him?  I think we as a fanbase overlook that aspect.  Danny will trade anyone at anytime if the right deal comes along.  Kyrie isn't any different. 

[celticsclay]

I think he stays. I think he’s seen enough of the organization to know that if things don’t work out Danny will make changes to build a team around him. It’s a longer term play he has in mind I think.

This can't be understated. Also, he won't have as much of an organizational role as say Lebron did with the Cavs, but I think he feels his voice can be heard in Boston.

In addition, he is the 'first' star here and, if we do win (even after acquiring AD), he will still garner much of the credit since it is 'his' team. He knows that joining up with Durant or Butler in some other random city won't bring anywhere near the respect he would get in Boston - a place to where he was traded. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy who wants to bounce around from city to city every couple of years.

Does he know that Danny will make changes to build the team around him or that those changes will involve Danny trading him?  I think we as a fanbase overlook that aspect.  Danny will trade anyone at anytime if the right deal comes along.  Kyrie isn't any different.

I think the fanbase underlooks the aspect that Danny has never traded an in his prime superstar that was healthy. He traded a washed up Garnett, a washed up Pierce (I love both guys but they were both on their way out of the league and never made an all-star game after leaving). He traded an injured and gimpy IT (who has never been the same since his injury). Walker was a bit younger, but certainly very far from a superstar. The vast majority of his trades have been around role players. There have been some rumors of deals I guess, but who even knows how true those all are. I guess now that I think of it, has ainge EVER traded a guy that went to play an all-star game for a diffferent team? I am sure I must be forgetting someone, but I can't think of one...

Also, I wouldn't even be surprised if Irving could get a no-trade clause if it was a condition on him signing.

[Moranis]

I think he stays. I think he’s seen enough of the organization to know that if things don’t work out Danny will make changes to build a team around him. It’s a longer term play he has in mind I think.

This can't be understated. Also, he won't have as much of an organizational role as say Lebron did with the Cavs, but I think he feels his voice can be heard in Boston.

In addition, he is the 'first' star here and, if we do win (even after acquiring AD), he will still garner much of the credit since it is 'his' team. He knows that joining up with Durant or Butler in some other random city won't bring anywhere near the respect he would get in Boston - a place to where he was traded. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy who wants to bounce around from city to city every couple of years.

Does he know that Danny will make changes to build the team around him or that those changes will involve Danny trading him?  I think we as a fanbase overlook that aspect.  Danny will trade anyone at anytime if the right deal comes along.  Kyrie isn't any different.

I think the fanbase underlooks the aspect that Danny has never traded an in his prime superstar that was healthy. He traded a washed up Garnett, a washed up Pierce (I love both guys but they were both on their way out of the league and never made an all-star game after leaving). He traded an injured and gimpy IT (who has never been the same since his injury). Walker was a bit younger, but certainly very far from a superstar. The vast majority of his trades have been around role players. There have been some rumors of deals I guess, but who even knows how true those all are. I guess now that I think of it, has ainge EVER traded a guy that went to play an all-star game for a diffferent team? I am sure I must be forgetting someone, but I can't think of one...

Also, I wouldn't even be surprised if Irving could get a no-trade clause if it was a condition on him signing.

I do think a no-trade clause might be in the cards.  But Ainge has had no problem trading the face of the franchise, whether that was Toine, Pierce, Rondo, or Thomas.  Now as you point out none of them made an all star team after the trade, but a guy that has on 4 separate occasions traded the face of the franchise, isn't someone that can really be trusted, especially when that guy has said he would have traded Larry Bird and that the greatest GM ever made a mistake when he didn't. 

You can't live by the Trader Danny mantra and not at some point expect some backlash from it. 

[gpap]

I don't think so and agree with others that if the team doesn't improve, Kyrie won't leave but Danny will make some moves and build around him.

[celticsclay]

I think he stays. I think he’s seen enough of the organization to know that if things don’t work out Danny will make changes to build a team around him. It’s a longer term play he has in mind I think.

This can't be understated. Also, he won't have as much of an organizational role as say Lebron did with the Cavs, but I think he feels his voice can be heard in Boston.

In addition, he is the 'first' star here and, if we do win (even after acquiring AD), he will still garner much of the credit since it is 'his' team. He knows that joining up with Durant or Butler in some other random city won't bring anywhere near the respect he would get in Boston - a place to where he was traded. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy who wants to bounce around from city to city every couple of years.

Does he know that Danny will make changes to build the team around him or that those changes will involve Danny trading him?  I think we as a fanbase overlook that aspect.  Danny will trade anyone at anytime if the right deal comes along.  Kyrie isn't any different.

I think the fanbase underlooks the aspect that Danny has never traded an in his prime superstar that was healthy. He traded a washed up Garnett, a washed up Pierce (I love both guys but they were both on their way out of the league and never made an all-star game after leaving). He traded an injured and gimpy IT (who has never been the same since his injury). Walker was a bit younger, but certainly very far from a superstar. The vast majority of his trades have been around role players. There have been some rumors of deals I guess, but who even knows how true those all are. I guess now that I think of it, has ainge EVER traded a guy that went to play an all-star game for a diffferent team? I am sure I must be forgetting someone, but I can't think of one...

Also, I wouldn't even be surprised if Irving could get a no-trade clause if it was a condition on him signing.

I do think a no-trade clause might be in the cards.  But Ainge has had no problem trading the face of the franchise, whether that was Toine, Pierce, Rondo, or Thomas.  Now as you point out none of them made an all star team after the trade, but a guy that has on 4 separate occasions traded the face of the franchise, isn't someone that can really be trusted, especially when that guy has said he would have traded Larry Bird and that the greatest GM ever made a mistake when he didn't. 

You can't live by the Trader Danny mantra and not at some point expect some backlash from it.

If Irving gets to be 35 (like pierce) and is no longer making all star games i doubt he would be shocked to be traded somewhere. If Irving breaks his leg and has one year left on his deal and is no longer going to be a star (IT) I doubt he would be shocked to be traded. While maybe the Bird thing makes headlines that is the general way the majority of the NBA works now. Lebron has played for 3 teams. Carmelo has played for 4 teams. Wade has played for 3 teams. KG played for 3 teams. Nash played for 3 teams.

Guys like Duncan, Kobe and Dirk that don't get traded at all and play for the same team even in their twilight are only becoming more rare. I certainly don't think a guy like Irving is going to be living in fear that he will be traded more than he would on any other team. Given that some of the top unrestricted free agents the last few years (hayward, horford) chose to come boston, it doesn't seem like the players themselves are worried about this either...

[mctyson]

That this is even a question is exactly why Tatum and Brown will not be getting traded this year.

[Chris22]

I hope he leaves, and we sign a bigger max player.

We need size bad.

[LarBrd33]

i'm prepared for anything.  Kyrie could leave.  Kyrie could recruit Durant to join him here in a sign-and-trade.  Anything is possible.

I do think it's funny we went from thinking Kyrie might leave, because the team is too overloaded with quality players and he wouldn't get to put up star stats ... to thinking he might leave, because the team doesn't have enough talent around him to compete.