NBA Rumors: Knicks, Nets Could Sign Kyrie Irving, Thomas Says

Kyrie Irving’s future with the Boston Celtics was likely to be a conversation that takes place throughout the year after he declined to sign a new deal with his current employers this summer.

The Celtics point guard’s refusal to sign a new deal almost certainly means that he will enter free agency in 2019 by declining player option. That will allow him to join a franchise of his choosing and he will not be short of suitors.

Irving is one of the few high profile players who will enter free agency in 2019 and there are a number of franchises plotting a move for the 2016 NBA champion. He maintained he was only focused on guiding the Celtics to the championship, while the Boston franchise hope they can convince him to re-sign with them on much more lucrative terms next summer.

But until he does sign, speculation will be rife about a potential move to another team. The New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets were being touted as potential destinations for the point guard.

Irving was from the Big Apple and there have been talks that he could return home and join one of the aforementioned franchises. The Celtics star grew up watching the Nets, and was a big admirer of Jason Kidd, who was a legend in his hometown having played the majority of his career with the Nets.

NBA legend Isiah Thomas believes both the franchises — the Knicks and the Nets — have a chance to sign him next summer if they offer him the right package. It will not be just a financial decision as he will be keen to add to the NBA title he won with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015.

The entire conversation about Irving’s potential move was started by his former teammate J.R. Smith, who responded “high” to a question on social media about the chances of the Knicks signing the Celtics guard. Thomas was asked about the response and seemed to be in agreement with the Cavaliers shooting guard.

“I believe that,” Thomas said on “NBA GameTime,” as transcribed by the Express. “There’s always the natural pull to go back home and Kyrie being from that area - the Nets and the Knicks - those two tams will have their shot at him.”

“Only because he’s had a healthy respect for the area, people love him in the area and I think he’ll give those organisations the kind of respect that they deserve. ... That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to leave Boston but I do think they will be in play,” he added. “If they put the right package together and everything falls into place then they’ve got a chance.”

The Celtics begin their training camp for the new season later this month and expect to have a fully fit Irving back in the squad. The five-time All-Star missed the latter part of last season with a knee injury.