Kyrie Irving tops the Knicks’ wish list in free agency next summer because he’s their most realistic target, A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston opines. Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard would elevate the franchise even more than Irving but both of those potential free agents would be much harder to land, Blakely continues. Securing Irving’s services won’t be easy, either, but the Knicks have a better chance with the Celtics point guard, who grew up in New Jersey. It’s not only his ability but potential availability that makes him attractive to the Knicks’ front office, Blakely adds. Blakely declared that Irving topped the Knicks’ wish list during a podcast this week.
We have more from around the Atlantic Division:
- Bringing in Alan Williams is a low-risk flier for the Nets, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. The team has been stockpiling big men and rebounders and the 6’8” Williams fits both those categories, Lewis continues. It’s rare to land a fourth-year pro on a two-way contract who has averaged 15 rebounds per 36 minutes over his career, Lewis points out. Williams reached an agreement with Brooklyn on Friday.
- Semi Ojeleye was probably the biggest beneficiary of Gordon Hayward’s injury last season but he hasn’t established a steady spot in the Celtics rotation, Blakely examines in a player profile. While Ojeleye has shown the ability to defend multiple frontcourt positions and switch out on guards, he’ll simply have to be ready to contribute any way he can with the return of Hayward, Blakely adds. Ojeleye appeared in 73 regular -season games last season.
- With the return of Hayward and Irving from injuries, it’s tough to find any reason why the Celtics won’t roll to the Eastern Conference title, Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports opines. The team’s closest competitors – Toronto, Milwaukee and Philadelphia – can’t match the Celtics’ depth and overall talent, Mannix continues. Even the team’s projected second unit of Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Morris and Daniel Theis could compete for a playoff spot, Mannix notes.
kyrie, gordo, theis won’t play in back-backs for a few months. they’re not in nba shape
Thanks Brad Stevens.
Another good move by Sean Marks BRK. Alan W has always produced.
Yeah the dude has been on fire since becoming the Nets GM. 1st move: hired Kenny Atkinson. 2nd move: signed Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris to low cost multi-year contracts. 3rd move: Traded Thad Young for 1st rounder Caris Levert and a future 2nd. 4th: traded Bojan Bogs to Wizards for 1st rounder Jarrett Allen and salary dump Andrew Nicholson. 5th: dumped Nicholson for Allen Crabbe who Marks wanted the year earlier. 6th is questionable acquiring DLo and Mozgov’s crap deal for Brook Lopez and the pick that became Kyle Kuzma but DLo has potential and he got rid of Mozgov’s deal already. The Lin signing was just bad luck. Got Carroll, Musa and Kurucs for a scrub. Got a Denver 1st and future 2nd for Whitehead and got Dudley and a PHX future 2nd for D Arthur. Now Alan W. I skipped some things like the Okafor experiment and signing Ed Davis and Napier, good moves but Jah didn’t work out and we don’t know how Ed and Shabazz will play out.
Didn’t mean to ramble
If the GOAT Boston Celtics play cohesively as a unit on BOTH ENDS of the floor, there’s NO REASON they can’t AND won’t win a Championship this coming season. Bleed Green.
To the lame media outlets etc. We don’t need the extra media attention, no need to talk us up, we’re JUST THAT exciting to watch. Enjoy the next run with TWO ALL STAR PLAYERS this time around. Irving re-signing soon AND Ainge will be keeping Rozier long term too.
Yea Umm I think Toronto will trade for Butler or Gasol mid-season and you won’t make it.
Very confident for a team that has won 1 championship in the last 32 years.
And came within 8 minutes of a second
Think you MEANT 2 Championships. The LA fakers cheated in 2010 vs Boston. Good try though, rico suave cesc.
BTW, how many championships to the Celtics have again? I’ll wait…. Plus, last I looked, unlike the yankees and fakers, the C’s didn’t cheat to win any of them.
Kyrie is going to the Knicks, no way he stays in Boston.
Agree with Dionis about this one.
There is no way Boston can keep both Kyrie & Rozier. Terry should at least be paid next summer as much as Smart, & Kyrie is going for 38MM/year. So you would have 3 PG’s getting around 65MM/year, which is 60% of the cap, then you have Horford with his 30MM/year & Hayward with his 31MM/year!!! Those 5 players alone would put them in the luxury tax & still is to come JB & JT payday soon enough, this team will become very expensive very quickly.
Danny Ainge is smarter than you.
Horford might be a free agent after this season.
I think I’m ok with that. Not that I want to see him leave, but there is definitely some roster crunch coming. I’d rather lose one player than three. Plus Brown and Tatum are going to catapult even further this year.
Look who knows so much…