The New York Knicks have long been rumored as a potential landing spot for NBA champion Kyrie Irving. ESPN’s experts seem to think no differently.
A poll conducted by ESPN has Kyrie Irving choosing the New York Knicks as his next NBA team next summer when he officially enters free agency
It’s music to the ears of Knicks fans everywhere. A potential Irving-New York marriage has been rumored for months.
Ever since the five-time All-Star made his wishes to leave Cleveland public while placing New York among his desired destinations, Knickerbockers fans have been walking the Big Apple streets giddier than schoolboy.
A trade between the Knicks and Cavaliers never materialized. Boston sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and a first-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Irving.
With the Celtics, he got the opportunity to run his own show. Irving’s killer instinct was once again put on the big stage, this time at TD Garden, one of the NBA’s larger venues.
He averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Now, Boston’s rapidly growing young core makes a future with Irving seem all the less likely. He’ll be on the market once again, and reports suggest that his interest in New York hasn’t wavered.
At least, the expert analysts at ESPN seem to think so. From their Forecast Panel:
“Reports swirled earlier this summer that Irving was aiming to team up with Butler, potentially in New York, where the Knicks should have the space to add a max player. (Adding two would take some creativity with the current roster.)
Irving grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, and might leap at the opportunity to play in front of home area fans. However, our panel also gave the Celtics a very good chance of retaining Irving — a chance that could improve if Irving and the Celtics take advantage of the LeBron-less East and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.”
The ceiling of a potential Irving-Kristaps Porzingis surpasses playoff contention and gets even more dangerous when you factor in Frank Ntilikina and rookie Kevin Knox. For both sides, this move would represent a future in contending.
For now, however, Knicks fans will have to settle for highlights of Irving in the white and green until he potentially trades them in next summer for the blue and orange.
