Kyrie Irving's Celtics Future Remains Unclear, Nets, Knicks Plotting 2019 Move

Kyrie Irving still has 11 months on his contract with the Boston Celtics before he can become an unrestricted free agent, but talks about his future continue to make the rounds.

The five-time All-Star refused to sign a new deal with the Celtics this summer after making it clear he will wait until the end of the 2018-19 season to make a decision on his future.

As soon as he made his stance clear, talks about a potential departure gathered pace with Irving being linked with a number of teams mainly the New York Knicks. A potential union with Jimmy Butler in New York was touted, but that was shot down suggesting most of the talks were coming from the latter’s camp and not Irving’s.

The Celtics are said to remain confident that they can tie the 2015 NBA champion to new long-term deal and the main reason for him not signing this summer is he will be eligible for a much more lucrative deal if he opts out and re-signs in 2019.

Irving is currently focused on making a full recovery from the knee injury that cut short his debut season with the Celtics, and helping the young and talented team make the NBA Finals. Despite his absence, the Celtics were just one win away from the finals in 2018, but lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Despite his future not being clear at the moment and there being 11 months still to run on his present deal before he can enter free agency, New York Times’ Marc Stein believes there are credible rumblings about the Brooklyn Nets along with the Knicks planning to pursue Irving next summer.

“Kyrie Irving’s intentions are not at all clear at this point. There have been no firm indications from Irving or his camp that the All-Star guard is eyeing an exit from Boston next summer or that he’s angling to go to New York — as is often speculated,” Stein said, as per Nets Daily.

“But there are nonetheless credible rumblings in circulation that the Nets plan to pursue Irving, right alongside the Knicks, should he become a free agent on July 1, 2019. … In short: I expect Brooklyn to aim as high as possible in free agency while reserving the right to stay conservative if the Nets can’t convince top-tier free agents to take their money,” he added.

The report claimed the Nets are hoping to convince Irving to join them based on his love for the franchise. The Celtics guard grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and watched games at their old Continental Airlines Arena and idolized Nets legend Jason Kidd.

However, nothing will be clear until next summer when he can become an unrestricted free agent and it is likely to also hinge on the Celtics’ fortunes during the 2018-19 season.