NBA: How the playoffs and draft lottery have affected free agency

Klay Thompson

…Klay’s not going anywhere.

Kyrie Irving

I put Kyrie last because just thinking about his situation is exhausting; I am literally sweating while typing this. This team was supposed to go out and thrash the East in LeBron’s absence, and Kyrie was going to deliver on his promise to go from prince to king.

Instead, we got the 2018-19 Celtics season. Listen, I dislike the Celtics as much as the next guy, but as a basketball fan, I have to admit it was incredibly disappointing seeing a team with so much talent and potential bicker and stall for the better part of eight months. Kyrie, when he’s on, is in all likelihood the most fun player to watch in the entire league. He is a born bucket-getter.

There’s a chance the C’s try to shake up the roster this offseason around Irving, as you can’t imagine Ainge is hoping to lose an asset like him for nothing, but if Durant does make good on his silent promise to go to the Knicks, Kyrie will undoubtedly sign there within minutes as well.

Here’s the thing – Danny Ainge is a mean, spiteful SOB, and he hates the Knicks. If he has an opportunity to swing for AD and make a one-year gamble that they put together a contender, he’ll do it. And if he does, Kyrie would be a maniac to leave. Still, it’s a dangerous move, and the Celtics may be better off keeping the team young and letting the Kyrie drama just end.