As soon as the Offseason 2018 draws to a close, the teams are already preparing for the summer of 2019. The New York Knicks seem to have their eye on Kyrie Irving.
Although the Boston Celtics point guard still has a contract until 2020, he can withdraw early next year thanks to a player option from his final contract year, which would earn him around 21.3 million dollars.
Many experts believe it is likely that Irving will do just that in order to conclude a longer-term contract at an early stage. In addition to the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks will allegedly also strive for the 26-year-old.
As Celtics insider A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston reports in a podcast, the Knickerbockers have declared Irving as their number one goal for summer 2019. “I’ve spoken to people from the organization. They made one thing clear to me: if they could choose a free agent, Irving would be their first, second, third and fourth choices,” Blakely says.
“He’s someone they definitely want,” the journalist continues. “But I don’t think he’s as interested.” Irving missed 22 regular games and the complete playoffs last season due to injury. Previously, in his first year in Boston, he scored 24.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.