NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving Joining Knicks, But Lakers 'No Way In Hell'

Kyrie Irving's future with the Boston Celtics has come under the spotlight after their elimination from the playoffs and many expect the point guard to leave when he enters free agency in the summer with New York Knicks being touted as his next destination. But talks about Irving joining LeBron James in Los Angeles with the Lakers gathered pace over the weekend.

The Celtics point guard spent three seasons with James in Cleveland and even won the 2016 NBA championship but decided to leave one season later with the intention of getting out from under James’ shadow. He became the de-facto leader in Boston, but his two seasons have not gone as planned and now ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes he is open to the idea of a reunion with his former teammate.

The NBA insider says that Irving has held discussions about a potential move to Lakers in the summer, especially since the Los Angeles franchise appointed Brooklyn Nets legend Jason Kidd as new head coach Frank Vogel’s top assistant.

However, fellow ESPN NBA insider Stephen A Smith has doused the flames on any potential move to the Lakers for Irving by citing a source close to the point guard’s family. He claims via his source that there is “no way in hell” Irving will go to Los Angeles and team up again with James.

"From what I'm told, it's not going to happen," Smith said on Monday’s episode of “First Take”, as quoted on Yahoo Sports. "I got a text message from folks close to Kyrie's family, within the hour, as we were teasing this subject. Quote: 'There is no way in hell he's going to LA. I don't give a damn what anybody says, knock that down for us right now please. He ain't going to LA.' That's what they say.”

Smith is certain that Irving will leave the Celtics when he enters free agency in the summer and believes his next destination will be the Madison Square Garden to play for the Knicks. According to the NBA insider’s multiple sources, he is expected to team up with Kevin Durant and move to New York ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

"From everything that I've been hearing over the last few days, Kyrie Irving is heading to New York City," Smith added. "Kyrie Irving is heading to Madison Square Garden with Kevin Durant. People in his inner circle are trying to bring the Nets into the mix, but clearly New York is the destination. The likelihood is it will be MSG."

Moreover, Smith also claimed that Knicks owner James Dolan has informed the players that he is ready to offer “whatever” the duo want in order to get them to commit their long-term futures to the Knicks. Irving has made it clear he will reveal his decision on July 1, while Durant is currently sidelined by injury and focusing on returning at the earliest to help the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals.