Kyrie speaks to media

[celticinorlando]

Hard to think about the finals when it seems there is something not right with the chemistry and soundness of the team. There are massive divisions...my guess is Kyrie wants some guys shipped out and is waiting to see if Ainge does that.

But this team has not looked right from game 1.

[mef730]

I'll play the optimistic person and say that Kyrie only says this because even after saying he'd re-sign here, people (especially here) are still asking him about it and strongly believe he won't. Even if Kyrie said again he'd re-sign here, you'd have the likes of Triboy16 downplaying it anyways 

Nope. If he wanted this to end, he would have said, "I said that I'm going to stay and haven't changed my mind. If I do, I'll let you know then. Please drop it."

Mike

[MattyIce]

Anybody want to guess what the plan would be if Kyrie does leave and AD is not traded for?
Who is out there Boston could go after with a max slot? Kemba?

Afraid Boston would have a lot of money and nobody to spend it on. Plus you get into the 3 picks in this year's draft...talk about a super young team. Talented...but you would be giving the reigns over to Tatum, Rozier and Brown hoping Al and Hayward could lead.

we wouldn't have a max slot if Al opts in

[RJ87]

Lets see how RJ87 and Goukie88 .. the presidents of Kyrie is life fanclub spin this

If Iam Danny Iam checking out what type of return you can get for Irving.  Irving is not the only one that can take the team hostage

As I have said time and time again, players don't owe loyalty to franchises. This is a business. They should do what's best them If Kyrie decides staying in Boston isn't in his best interest, then that's his right.

Of course this is your response

Does the Celtics come 1st or Irving?

So challenging my fandom is appropriate because I understand the realities of the business?

[PhoSita]

I wish people would stop. We have a team that may go to the Finals this year. Can we enjoy that without all the handwringing about what might happen next year? Wait and see. Enjoy the ride.

The thing is, they're clearly not a favorite to get beyond the 2nd round this year.

That's not to say they won't, but it will be an uphill battle.


It's always a bad idea to put your hopes all on one season.

The path to achieving great things in the NBA is having a talented group of players together for multiple seasons.


So it's cold comfort that they might get a single playoff run out of Kyrie before he leaves.

[tonydelk]

  what a selfish jerk.  could have thrown cold water on this story, instead he adds gasoline.    forget about this season,  lets just talk about kyrie's contract the rest of the year.    loser player with no leadership.

Very harsh post but I can’t say I disagree.  I thought he was studying leadership 101 from LeBron.  Oh wait... maybe he should have talked with Timmy or Dirk instead.

This is very disappointing.  It seems to confirm there is definitely a divide in the C's locker room and it starts with Kyrie.  At this point I will not be surprised at anything.  I don't want to panic but nothing is guaranteed.  I'm sure the Thunder were confident KD was going to return.  It takes one team to blow Kyrie away and he's their's.  If Kyrie takes meetings I have zero confidence he is returning.  If Kyrie leaves then is Horford next?  He can't feel confident if Kyrie leaves the C's will be contenders.  I want Kyrie to stay for the long term but if the C's don't get AD then Kyrie will just move on to what he perceives as his next challenge.  Maybe it's not all kumbaya in the locker room.  Maybe the young guys feel they can win without Kyrie and are showing it.  This is not a good situation and I hope DA does not make decisions based off of trying to get Kyrie to stay.  I'm sure he's had a frank conversation with Kyrie.  Depending on how that conversation went will show at the trade deadline.

[celticinorlando]

Anybody want to guess what the plan would be if Kyrie does leave and AD is not traded for?
Who is out there Boston could go after with a max slot? Kemba?

Afraid Boston would have a lot of money and nobody to spend it on. Plus you get into the 3 picks in this year's draft...talk about a super young team. Talented...but you would be giving the reigns over to Tatum, Rozier and Brown hoping Al and Hayward could lead.

They wouldn’t have a max slot. They can only sign Irving because it’s a re-sign. Hayward and Horford eat up most of our cap number.

Ugh...then a whole lot of youth..

[RMO]

I know people really love to talk about the sky falling...

But couldn't his comments also be interpreted as someone who is sick of answering questions about his Free Agency in the middle of the season, considering he already came out the beginning of the season and announced his intentions.  I dunno, if I came out to an arena full of people and said what I wanted to do, then had to answer questions about where I think I'll end up based off of speculative rumors that as far as we know aren't even coming from Kyrie.

There have been reports for MONTHS about his desire to sign certain places.  No hard sources, just things like "someone close to the situation."  It's all speculative.  The only words spoken by Kyrie regarding any of this was the night in Boston where he said he had intentions of resigning.

Obviously these things can change, but why are we so quick to believe reports from unnamed sources versus right out of the man's mouth?  I'd probably be fed up with the questions and answer similarly.

Exactly.  I think he said that in the beginning of the season so he wouldn't have to answer these questions in every city he goes to over the season.  He's  asked this now, not because of anything he said or did but because the media took a phone call he made to Lebron and turned it into a complete circus.  We wonder why athletes go out of their way not to say anything meaningful in interviews.  This is why.  He doesn't owe anyone anything. 

That being said, I do hope this doesn't make the Pelicans queasy about waiting for Boston in the offseason.  Six more days.

[KGBirdBias]

Ok Kyrie sounds like he's p---ed at how the narrative is being shaped. If he can't commit like he did before the season, Ainge should be on the phone today trying to move Kyrie. Kyrie isn't being clear.

Beal to Celtics

Wiz can possibly convince Kyrie to stay and bring KD home to DC.

[Tr1boy]

Lets see how RJ87 and Goukie88 .. the presidents of Kyrie is life fanclub spin this

If Iam Danny Iam checking out what type of return you can get for Irving.  Irving is not the only one that can take the team hostage

As I have said time and time again, players don't owe loyalty to franchises. This is a business. They should do what's best them If Kyrie decides staying in Boston isn't in his best interest, then that's his right.

Of course this is your response

Does the Celtics come 1st or Irving?

So challenging my fandom is appropriate because I understand the realities of the business?

Do you understand the reality of how unsettling this is for the locker room

That is already not on the same page?

[apc]

Sounds like a guy who is tired with all this BS rumors.

And a guy who has no clue what effect his actions and words have on others.

He is giving the same answer DA wil give you. Is a business and anything can happen

[Silky]

To play devils advocate here.

Its in Kyries best interest to keep fires burning. The more that team want him the better bargaining chip in contract negotiations.

[jpotter33]

I know people really love to talk about the sky falling...

But couldn't his comments also be interpreted as someone who is sick of answering questions about his Free Agency in the middle of the season, considering he already came out the beginning of the season and announced his intentions.  I dunno, if I came out to an arena full of people and said what I wanted to do, then had to answer questions about where I think I'll end up based off of speculative rumors that as far as we know aren't even coming from Kyrie.

There have been reports for MONTHS about his desire to sign certain places.  No hard sources, just things like "someone close to the situation."  It's all speculative.  The only words spoken by Kyrie regarding any of this was the night in Boston where he said he had intentions of resigning.

Obviously these things can change, but why are we so quick to believe reports from unnamed sources versus right out of the man's mouth?  I'd probably be fed up with the questions and answer similarly.

Yep. This is exactly how I read this.

Sure, he's a bit frustrated that the season hasn't gone as smoothly as most, but he literally said that he still has faith in the C's and he stills sees himself here long-term with Boston leading the pack. People are blowing this way out of proportion and taking the whole conversation out of context.

https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/1091366674039824384

Kyrie Irving said he still has confidence in the Celtics and what they promise for the future. “Obviously Boston’s still at the head of that race.”

https://twitter.com/Tom_NBA/status/1091364584722702338

Woj says on his podcast there is a lot of “wishful thinking” that Kyrie is in play. Adds that Irving has been clear "in recent weeks, in recent days” that he remains committed to the Celtics.

[celticinorlando]

Al not opting in would be great for Boston if Kyrie goes. But Al has been here before him and I don't expect him to leave no matter what Kyrie does.

[PhoSita]

Anybody want to guess what the plan would be if Kyrie does leave and AD is not traded for?

Re-sign Terry.  Let Morris sign elsewhere.

Hope Baynes opts in. 

Hope Horford opts out and re-signs for a more reasonable sum.  Or maybe just let him go ring chase elsewhere, but I think it'd be better if he stays.


Probably try to spin all the draft picks they have into future selections or a reasonably established but still relatively young player. 


If Kyrie leaves we then enter the Jayson Tatum / Jaylen Brown era.  The goal becomes maximizing those guys and aiming to have a quality team around them by the time Tatum is nearing the last two years of his second contract.


Because Lord knows if the Celts aren't contending by the time Tatum is 25 or so, he's going to be looking for greener pastures and letting it be known that he'd like a trade.