NBA Rumors: New York Knicks a threat to sign Kyrie Irving in 2019?

NBA Rumors: The New York Knicks could emerge as a real threat to sign Kyrie Irving in free agency next summer, when he hits the open market

The New York Knicks haven’t exactly been players in free agency since 2010, when they were thought to be a finalist to land LeBron James before he announced to the world that he was taking his talents to South Beach.

But that could soon change. That’s because there is a certain big-name free agent who could bring relevance back to The Big Apple.

According to Yahoo’s Chris Mannix, the Boston Celtics are “scared” of the possibility that Kyrie Irving could leave for the Knicks in free agency next summer.

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"[via NBC Sports]“I think they’re scared. I think they’re scared and should be scared to some degree of Kyrie Irving walking in 2019. I know he had a great year, but you know there are people in Cleveland that will tell you that the Knicks should be considered a real threat for Kyrie Irving. Because Kyrie had talked about it – about playing with the Knicks with some players in that Cleveland locker room – from what I was told.”"

The Celtics are believed to be one of the best young, up-and-coming teams in the NBA and that’s without Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving in the equation. If you throw them in, the Celtics should be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference no matter what LeBron James elects to do this summer.

However, Irving leaving in free agency could throw a wrench in all their plans.

Irving is just 26 years old and might not even have hit his ceiling yet. He’s coming off a season that was ended prematurely due to knee surgery, but was arguably his best. He was having career years in efficiency, shooting 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.

He was the team’s leading-scorer and was one of the frontrunners to win the NBA MVP before he went down. Had it not been for James Harden’s incredible season, Irving might have won the award. He was even playing much better defense under Brad Stevens than every before.

Maybe he likes Boston and his outlook has changed, but there’s really no telling what a player will do when he hits the open market until it actually happens. Until then, the Celtics will have to cross their fingers.

Must Read: NBA: Ranking the top 10 restricted free agents of 2018

We live in an era where the players have all the power, and soon enough it will be Kyrie Irving’s turn.