Would Kyrie Irving truly consider joining forces with LeBron James again? According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, it’s a real possibility (hat tip to Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype). Windhorst believes a reunion could be in the works, especially if the Lakers hire Jason Kidd as their head coach. Irving has even talked about it, according to Windhorst.
“That door, which was deadbolted, has been un-deadbolted and has now been cracked open,” Windhorst said. “… It might even be opening more by the day. And I say that just because I think it’s on Kyrie’s radar, it’s on Kyrie’s board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers.”
We have more on Irving, who becomes an unrestricted free agent once he declines his $21.3MM player option:
- Irving’s poor performance against Milwaukee in the conference semifinals should concern the Knicks, Marc Berman of the New York Post opines. The Knicks will try to sign two top-level free agents but if they don’t get Kevin Durant or trade for Anthony Davis, Irving might be a poor fit because he’s only proven he can be the No. 2 star on a championship-caliber team, Berman continues. There is genuine debate within the front office whether they’d be better off chasing Hornets All-Star guard Kemba Walker instead of Irving, Berman adds.
- Celtics guard Marcus Smart defended Irving against critics who believe Irving’s leadership skills led to poor chemistry in the locker room, according to an ESPN report. Smart feels Irving was thrust into a difficult situation. “Probably a few amount of people in this world know what Kyrie goes through. It was hard for him as well,” Smart said. “He was forced into a situation where it was business over the friendships. … This is Kyrie Irving we’re talking about it, and he’s worried about coming in and disrupting us. We took him in with full arms. We tried to understand. But like I said, we never really understood because we’re not in his shoes.”
- It seems almost inevitable that Irving will sign elsewhere this summer, David Aldridge of The Athletic writes. When Boston’s president of basketball operations Danny Ainge traded for Irving two years ago, it was a safe bet that he’d emerge as a mature and credible leader of a title-contending team, Aldridge continues. Irving came up well short of the mark, as he was AWOL emotionally much of this season, Aldridge adds.
I think he joins LeBron really can’t see him going to the Knicks. Maybe the Nets but I don’t know, I feel like he knows him and LeBron play well together. I think they team up again and the Lakers trade that 1st rd pick along with Ball and Ingram plus another 1st rd pick for AD. But we shall see. Lakers can’t get anything right so I guess I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t.
Nope he goes to the Knicks with Jimmy.
Not sure it’s a good move or not, especially if he wants a max deal, but either way the Lakers are currently too dumb to ever pull it off.
wait… is almost sounds as if Kyrie was a little dysfunctional in Boston. emotionally AWOL??? Hes gotta come to LA now. this is practically kismet
Doubt Kyrie goes West, I think he signs with the Knicks. The West is loaded with elite guards in Curry,Westbrook, and Lillard. He would not start a All-Star game if he went there, on the Knicks he would become even more popular and his jersey would be number 1 in sales. Jimmy and Kyrie sign with the Knicks.
Doubt he goes to the knicks how have no star and high lotttery talents that havent paned out. Lebron needs kyrie as much as kyrie needs lebron, perfect fit. Now knowing neither can have successes without each other they can tag team the west and topple critics like you.
Nah they’d still lose to GSW
He won’t be popular in NY if he can’t lead a young team. His time in Boston shows that he can’t. If the Knicks sign him and butler he’s still going to be looked at as the leader. Nah, he’s going we’re he can hide behind an Alpha
As a Cavs fan, I have to admit that it would be a little frustrating to see Kyrie and LeBron reunite on a different team. I’m glad that they’ve seemed to mend their relationship, but seeing them join forces again somewhere else would kind of be a bitter feeling.
But all of that aside, I think Kyrie’s best fit is the Knicks if they choose to go after him. I could very much picture the Knicks trying and failing to land KD or AD and convincing themselves to settle for Kyrie as a #1 option again. But even if they do get one of those guys, I still think Kyrie would make a lot of sense for them. He’s from New Jersey and I imagine he’d want to play closer to home if all things are equal (I’d say the Nets, but you would think they’d prioritize Russell).
An offense that works for James would also work for Irving– probe the defense for weakness before attacking it. Don’t just willy-nilly anybody launch tough shots like Walton preferred, or force quick straight-line slashes. James/Lue also likes to use screens to setup advantageous matches; I’m not sure Irving liked that, or if the Lakers will ever get there, but that would be the full package of the “Lebron just holds the ball” offense. It’s proven to work with Irving.
I would not have predicted a James/Irving reunion, or maybe I just don’t like it. But Irving and the Lakers both have backed themselves into a corner and they can bail each other out.
I made a joke about him going to the Lakers like 6 months ago. Never thought it would really happen lol
Weired things happen in sports
Berman is an idiot. I doubt even the Knicks’ FO has anyone clueless enough to argue they should take KW over KI. Although, I doubted the reports on their contracts with THJ and Baker. Mills proved me wrong there. But KW would end up being a worse contract than either.
Yes that was another odd turn. Walker hasn’t won much of anything as a #1 option and arguably he has had more chances.
I think the idea is that KW would gel better with Durant and be a vocal leader in the locker room and on the court, all while being a good mentor.
We’ve already seen that Kyrie doesn’t mesh well with other star caliber players,
he wants to be the unquestioned #1.
He’s Carmelo all over again.
If the Knicks sign him, I’m done.
I just cannot live through any more years of HogBall.
Maybe you haven’t seen Kemba play. He’s a 5’11, 170lb Melo. Strictly a ball dominant isolation player, who’s inefficient and can’t facilitate for others, not to mention he’s routinely target defensively. The only Melo trait he lacks is he doesn’t smirk when he’s abused defensively.
KI won a championship (and, yeah, he won it) and played in 4 finals with the game’s best player, and was willing to play off the ball to do it. And it’s him that reminds of you Melo?
Well we have to see what’s more important to him Money his image or a championship
Money he picks the Knicks
His image he said “ I’m going to re-sign with Boston “
Or going to play with Lebrun and having a chance at winning
I don’t see that and I think you said something cheap about him. What about adventure? I wouldn’t shut Kyrie out
Irving is the current day Melo. He is a “ Me Only” cancer that will never win without being in someone’s shadow. Run to the Lakers and the Train Wreck will continue.
Becoming more clear by the day that AD, Kyrie and LBJ will team up in LA for the Lakers.
That would be lame. That would shut down the West by trying to conquer GSW forbiddenly… who wants to see that
Probably every laker fan
He likes the films and rightly so after Uncle Drew. So it’s NY or LA. If he went to the Lakers he and LeBron would form a potent combination coach notwithstanding. Knicks are too far away. Nets are opposite of the player-run Lakers. Question is does Kyrie want to be coached. Doc Rivers for the Clippers isn’t going to be all over him like the Nets will. Interesting choices.
I don’t care where he goes, just leave Boston.
maybe he’ll walk off the flat earth, boston does-not want him back
Good riddance. Not a team player. Not a leader. Cancerous. Perfect fit the Lakers. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass. Sincerely, Boston.
Clearly this guy is a fraud. He got what he asked for. A team to lead where he is the frontman and couldn’t handle it. He barely even tried. He’s so concerned with being THE guy that when he got the opportunity he failed and in epic fashion. There is no way he could ever rebuild his image unless he stays with the Celtics and learns from his mistakes. He won’t though. The guy is a flake. He’s far too concerned with optics and it’s costing him shots at championships. Listen too him talk. He tries so hard to sound smart but the funny thing is that when he uses smart sounding words he uses them in the wrong context or definition almost every time. Too bad. Has the talent but not even half the heart