Boston Celtics All Star point guard Kyrie Irving is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, something that basketball fans have heard countless times throughout the season. Rumors have long connected Irving to New York, but there's apparently a growing belief that the Knicks might not be his preferred destination after all.
According to a report by The New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy, "some sources around the league" think that the Nets have become Kyrie's favored landing spot.
New York is expected to make a summer run at point guard Kyrie Irving, but the Brooklyn Nets are also in the running for the enigmatic champion. In fact, some sources around the league believe Irving prefers the Nets. In an interview done recently with NBATV, David Griffin — who was the Cavs GM at the same time Irving played for Cleveland — suggested that was the case.
“I think Brooklyn is the fit that’s better for him in terms of his mindset,” Griffin said. “I think he likes what they’ve done there, culturally.”
After trading away Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks put themselves in a position to sign two superstars this summer, and the pairing of Irving and Kevin Durant has long been reported as their "Plan A." Meanwhile, the Nets could have $54 million in cap space to work with, but they'd have to renounce the rights to restricted free agent D’Angelo Russell, among others.
The Nets, 39-38, are clinging to the seventh seed with just five regular season games remaining, while the Knicks (14-62) are on the verge of cementing their record as the worst team in the NBA.
In 63 games this season, Irving is averaging 23.9 points, 7.1 assists and 5 rebounds per game. The Celtics, 45-32, are currently slotted in the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and they're on track for a first round matchup with the Indiana Pacers, who boast the same record.