The Kyrie Irving free agency thread(to sign 4yr/$141M w/Nets page 105)

[ozgod]

Anige on Kyrie:

https://mobile.twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/1136305096617353216

Wow.  That's about as non-committal as Danny could have said anything without blatantly coming out and saying:  We are not doing anything roster-wise to induce Kyrie to stay.

So that means no Davis trade?

Nope. Ainge can not legally discuss any players he might trade or sign so, of course, he will be non-committal regarding additions to the team.

Very true...no matter how much fans want him to say otherwise 

[celticinorlando]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

[Roy H.]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

So another craptastic season with no hope other than wait until next year decade?

I hope not.

[Birdman]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

I agree..i think this will be the team next season

[PhoSita]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

So another craptastic season with no hope other than wait until next year decade?

I hope not.

First of all, what makes a season craptastic?  Is it craptastic if the team doesnt win 55+ games and make it to the Finals?  Is it craptastic if they don't win it all?

Second, why do you assume that if Kyrie leaves and the team doesn't trade for AD that they will be completely helpless to put together a title-worthy team in the next decade?


This seems like extravagant pessimism, and that's coming from me.


Danny is always going to be making moves every year to try to improve the team and set them up to have a shot at winning a title.  Even if the hoped-for outcome doesnt' occur this summer, it doesn't mean he won't have some other crazy scheme that might just work next summer, or the summer after.

[Roy H.]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

So another craptastic season with no hope other than wait until next year decade?

I hope not.

First of all, what makes a season craptastic?  Is it craptastic if the team doesnt win 55+ games and make it to the Finals?  Is it craptastic if they don't win it all?

Second, why do you assume that if Kyrie leaves and the team doesn't trade for AD that they will be completely helpless to put together a title-worthy team in the next decade?


This seems like extravagant pessimism, and that's coming from me.


Danny is always going to be making moves every year to try to improve the team and set them up to have a shot at winning a title.  Even if the hoped-for outcome doesnt' occur this summer, it doesn't mean he won't have some other crazy scheme that might just work next summer, or the summer after.

Well, I’m not all that thrilled to become the Nets or the Pacers, no. Seasons with absolutely no hope of a title are lost seasons.

And, I’m similarly not psyched to go from Eastern Conference favorites to a semi-rebuild in the course of one season.

Add to that that some of the guys proposed to be brought back aren’t all that fun to watch? Tatum’s bad shots and no defense? Rozier’s chucking? And God help us if we get another season of Hayward playing like Chandler Parsons 2.0. That’s neither fun nor winning basketball.

[BringToughnessBack]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

So another craptastic season with no hope other than wait until next year decade?

I hope not.

If we have to, waiting until 2021 while Brown and Tatum get more experienced it is not the worst thing in the world. Just give me a team that fights til the bitter end and does not put ego before team.

[Roy H.]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

So another craptastic season with no hope other than wait until next year decade?

I hope not.

If we have to, waiting until 2021 while Brown and Tatum get more experienced it is not the worst thing in the world. Just give me a team that fights til the bitter end and does not put ego before team.

What makes you think Tatum is that type of player?

[PhoSita]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

So another craptastic season with no hope other than wait until next year decade?

I hope not.

First of all, what makes a season craptastic?  Is it craptastic if the team doesnt win 55+ games and make it to the Finals?  Is it craptastic if they don't win it all?

Second, why do you assume that if Kyrie leaves and the team doesn't trade for AD that they will be completely helpless to put together a title-worthy team in the next decade?


This seems like extravagant pessimism, and that's coming from me.


Danny is always going to be making moves every year to try to improve the team and set them up to have a shot at winning a title.  Even if the hoped-for outcome doesnt' occur this summer, it doesn't mean he won't have some other crazy scheme that might just work next summer, or the summer after.

Well, I’m not all that thrilled to become the Nets or the Pacers, no. Seasons with absolutely no hope of a title are lost seasons.

And, I’m similarly not psyched to go from Eastern Conference favorites to a semi-rebuild in the course of one season.

Add to that that some of the guys proposed to be brought back aren’t all that fun to watch? Tatum’s bad shots and no defense? Rozier’s chucking? And God help us if we get another season of Hayward playing like Chandler Parsons 2.0. That’s neither fun nor winning basketball.

After last year I'd be happy just to have a fun, likable team.

I'm not nearly as down as you seem to be on the other guys.

Tatum and Brown are good and I believe they will get a lot better.  I love Horford and Smart.  Hayward is already much, much better than Chandler Parsons and I think he'll be significantly improved next year.  I agree that Rozier is not great and I'm not super excited about the prospect of him being the starting point guard, but I also very much doubt that the team would see him as the long term solution.

I also think Brad is gonna have a bounce back year, provided he's given a roster of players prepared to buy in and work hard on a nightly basis.

If they win 48-53 wins again and are back to being one of the smartest, hardest-playing teams in the league, I can live with that even if they aren't a title favorite.


Mind, this is not me saying I'm ready to sign up for 5-10 years of the Celts being a middle of the road team with no hope at competing for a title.  I still expect Danny to keep making moves and positioning the team for greatness.  I still want the journey to have a destination.  I trust that Danny knows what he's doing.  The Celts will be in a very good position, all things considered, even if everything doesn't go according to plan this summer.

[PAOBoston]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

So another craptastic season with no hope other than wait until next year decade?

I hope not.

First of all, what makes a season craptastic?  Is it craptastic if the team doesnt win 55+ games and make it to the Finals?  Is it craptastic if they don't win it all?

Second, why do you assume that if Kyrie leaves and the team doesn't trade for AD that they will be completely helpless to put together a title-worthy team in the next decade?


This seems like extravagant pessimism, and that's coming from me.


Danny is always going to be making moves every year to try to improve the team and set them up to have a shot at winning a title.  Even if the hoped-for outcome doesnt' occur this summer, it doesn't mean he won't have some other crazy scheme that might just work next summer, or the summer after.

Well, I’m not all that thrilled to become the Nets or the Pacers, no. Seasons with absolutely no hope of a title are lost seasons.

And, I’m similarly not psyched to go from Eastern Conference favorites to a semi-rebuild in the course of one season.

Add to that that some of the guys proposed to be brought back aren’t all that fun to watch? Tatum’s bad shots and no defense? Rozier’s chucking? And God help us if we get another season of Hayward playing like Chandler Parsons 2.0. That’s neither fun nor winning basketball.

After last year I'd be happy just to have a fun, likable team.

I'm not nearly as down as you seem to be on the other guys.

Tatum and Brown are good and I believe they will get a lot better.  I love Horford and Smart.  Hayward is already much, much better than Chandler Parsons and I think he'll be significantly improved next year.  I agree that Rozier is not great and I'm not super excited about the prospect of him being the starting point guard, but I also very much doubt that the team would see him as the long term solution.

I also think Brad is gonna have a bounce back year, provided he's given a roster of players prepared to buy in and work hard on a nightly basis.

If they win 48-53 wins again and are back to being one of the smartest, hardest-playing teams in the league, I can live with that even if they aren't a title favorite.


Mind, this is not me saying I'm ready to sign up for 5-10 years of the Celts being a middle of the road team with no hope at competing for a title.  I still expect Danny to keep making moves and positioning the team for greatness.  I still want the journey to have a destination.  I trust that Danny knows what he's doing.  The Celts will be in a very good position, all things considered, even if everything doesn't go according to plan this summer.

I’d say it fairly unlikely the Cs sniff anything close to 50 wins next year with no Irving. Irving will likely have trickle down effects on the roster (Horford/Morris likely gone as a result). Cs will likely be a lower playoff seed/borderline playoff team.

[Rondo9]

I think plan B is turning into plan A...stay young, keep Al, hope Hayward returns to form, trade for a PG. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Ainge keeps Rozier.

So another craptastic season with no hope other than wait until next year decade?

I hope not.

First of all, what makes a season craptastic?  Is it craptastic if the team doesnt win 55+ games and make it to the Finals?  Is it craptastic if they don't win it all?

Second, why do you assume that if Kyrie leaves and the team doesn't trade for AD that they will be completely helpless to put together a title-worthy team in the next decade?


This seems like extravagant pessimism, and that's coming from me.


Danny is always going to be making moves every year to try to improve the team and set them up to have a shot at winning a title.  Even if the hoped-for outcome doesnt' occur this summer, it doesn't mean he won't have some other crazy scheme that might just work next summer, or the summer after.

Well, I’m not all that thrilled to become the Nets or the Pacers, no. Seasons with absolutely no hope of a title are lost seasons.

And, I’m similarly not psyched to go from Eastern Conference favorites to a semi-rebuild in the course of one season.

Add to that that some of the guys proposed to be brought back aren’t all that fun to watch? Tatum’s bad shots and no defense? Rozier’s chucking? And God help us if we get another season of Hayward playing like Chandler Parsons 2.0. That’s neither fun nor winning basketball.

After last year I'd be happy just to have a fun, likable team.

I'm not nearly as down as you seem to be on the other guys.

Tatum and Brown are good and I believe they will get a lot better.  I love Horford and Smart.  Hayward is already much, much better than Chandler Parsons and I think he'll be significantly improved next year.  I agree that Rozier is not great and I'm not super excited about the prospect of him being the starting point guard, but I also very much doubt that the team would see him as the long term solution.

I also think Brad is gonna have a bounce back year, provided he's given a roster of players prepared to buy in and work hard on a nightly basis.

If they win 48-53 wins again and are back to being one of the smartest, hardest-playing teams in the league, I can live with that even if they aren't a title favorite.


Mind, this is not me saying I'm ready to sign up for 5-10 years of the Celts being a middle of the road team with no hope at competing for a title.  I still expect Danny to keep making moves and positioning the team for greatness.  I still want the journey to have a destination.  I trust that Danny knows what he's doing.  The Celts will be in a very good position, all things considered, even if everything doesn't go according to plan this summer.

I’d say it fairly unlikely the Cs sniff anything close to 50 wins next year with no Irving. Irving will likely have trickle down effects on the roster (Horford/Morris likely gone as a result). Cs will likely be a lower playoff seed/borderline playoff team.

It’s possible that they might not make the playoffs given how much stronger the east has gotten. If there’s an opportunity to get a superstar you take it. It’s better to have superstars with huge egos who lead teams to the finals than to have likable hard working guys who lead to nowhere.

[SparzWizard]

Yup time to become the next Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, being first/second round exit year after year. Times are going to be dark for Celtics fans.

Just do not trust this young squad and Brad Strvens without a true top veteran player or two in the league.

[philr13]

Am I the only one that doesn't see the logic in the "Kyrie to the Nets" rumor?

Do the Nets want him? I don't pose this question in a trash-talking manner. I know that the Nets have cap space, and I know that he grew up in New Jersey, but they can keep Russell for a lot less than they will have to pay Irving. Russell is already part of a successful core in Brooklyn. They don't have a compelling reason to screw that up.

I'm not arguing whether Russell is better than Irving. I just don't see the logic in taking the ball out of Russell's hands or trading him to accommodate Irving. There are other free agents out there this year that I would much more highly prioritize if I where the Nets.

When the free-agent dominos start to fall, and they usually fall quickly, I wonder how many options Irving is really going to have.

[PhoSita]

I’d say it fairly unlikely the Cs sniff anything close to 50 wins next year with no Irving. Irving will likely have trickle down effects on the roster (Horford/Morris likely gone as a result). Cs will likely be a lower playoff seed/borderline playoff team.

I don't think it's the case that Horford is likely to be gone if Kyrie doesn't return.

Perhaps 50 wins is unlikely but I think mid-to-high 40s is entirely possible.

[PAOBoston]

I’d say it fairly unlikely the Cs sniff anything close to 50 wins next year with no Irving. Irving will likely have trickle down effects on the roster (Horford/Morris likely gone as a result). Cs will likely be a lower playoff seed/borderline playoff team.

I don't think it's the case that Horford is likely to be gone if Kyrie doesn't return.

Perhaps 50 wins is unlikely but I think mid-to-high 40s is entirely possible.

I’d peg them in the low to maybe mid 40s imo