All-Star guard Kyrie Irving decided to leave Boston Celtics this summer and sign with the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent alongside fellow superstar Kevin Durant. Although unexpected to some, it turns out that Irving’s decision didn’t come as a complete surprise for Celtics.
During an introductory press conference for Celtic’s free-agent signings Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter, team’s general manager Danny Ainge admitted that he realized during the second part of the season that Irving might leave Boston.
“I think I had a pretty good idea in March or April,” – Ainge told reporters. “Not for sure, though. Not certain. But I was obviously thinking about moving in a different direction at that point. Thinking of the different options.”
While Ainge realized he is losing his superstar in March, the players around the NBA knew it even before that as it turns out. New York Knicks’ Bobby Portis recently told The Athletic that he and other players knew that Irving and Durant will go to Brooklyn in February.
“I knew what was gonna happen in February,” – said Portis. “We all knew that (Durant and Kyrie Irving would go to Brooklyn). Everybody knew that. I just don’t think the media knew that. Us basketball players, we all knew that.”
Kyrie Irving left Boston Celtics after spending two seasons with the organization. During that time he made two All-Star appearances while averaging 24.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game.
