The hottest item on the NBA free agency market has to be Kyrie Irving. The rumors just refuse to die down that when the current NBA season concludes, the superstar will cease wearing green - the Boston Celtics color. Where he heads next remains a great debate but it seems one destination for Irving is gradually fading out of the scene. There is little chance now that the former Cavalier will play again with LeBron James.
That's because James and Irving parted ways in not so friendly terms. Although there were suggestions the two have reconnected, it's unlikely the terms of endearment were ever the same. Nonetheless, Irving was recently reported as saying that a door is always open for him to explore the west, and perhaps collaborate with King James anew.
But most of the talks on the matter stopped there. The only other thing that fanned the speculation of Irving mulling of becoming a Laker was the bits of information from sports journalist Ric Bucher, who claimed that former Laker Kobe Bryant was personally facilitating a deal between his old team and Irving.
The news might have generated due excitement yet Bucher's follow up words on the subject appeared to have doused cold water on the hope that Irving will suit up with the Lakers. He said that Bryant had denied recruiting Irving at the behest of the LA front office.
"That's their deal. I'm not part of it," Bucher quoted the Black Mamba as saying, and per the report from NBC Sports.
If this is an indicator that Irving is looking beyond LA, is he planning to extend his stay in Boston? Highly unlikely, according to NBA analyst Jeff Goodman, adding that Irving departing from the team will not make key Celtics executives unhappy, including Danny Ainge.
"I'd be surprised if he stays in Boston. You see his body language. You hear enough smoke, you know there's something going on here ... I don't expect him to be in Boston. You could see it in the locker room and with his teammates," Goodman was reported by Celtics Blog as saying.
So with both the Lakers and the Celtics becoming weaker options now for Irving, which NBA team really excites him?
The odds are in favor of two New York teams, MSN reported. Ever since Irving has been rumored to be planning an opt-out on his current contract with Boston, his eyes are supposedly trained on the New York Knicks.
The Brooklyn Nets though have the edge above all else as it is public knowledge that in younger years, Irving dreamed of becoming an NBA star while admiring the Nets. Irving with the Nets, there exist a mutual interest for both parties, the MSN report added.
Besides, according to Goodman, Irving has already invested on a real estate spot in South Orange, New Jersey, which should be the player plainly stating that he intends to make a base not far from where the Nets are headquartered.
