Per The Ringer‘s Kevin O’Connor, Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving may not sign a max contract with any team this offseason but instead opt for a two-year deal with the Celtics, with a player option in his second year.
Such a deal would allow him and New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis to both become free agents in 2021 and decide on their free agency futures together. Davis requested a trade from the Pelicans prior to the trade deadline and Boston is expected to pursue him heavily.
According to O’Connor:
Several league front office executives I spoke with wondered: Would Irving sign a two-year contract with a player option for the second season to align his free agency with Davis’s? Irving might be prickly with the media and even those within the organization, but he is popular with fans, and players around the league like him. Irving has influence.
The move would be logical and give Irving and Davis a chance to experience a season together before determining if Boston offers them the best chance to win at the highest level.
For both players, winning and having a chance to compete against the cream of the crop is of utmost importance. That said, the Celtics won’t be the only team trying to woo either Irving or Davis, or convince the pair their franchise can win it all with the help of their services. Especially with teams like the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets thriving with just a single superstar player, Irving and Davis should expect to entertain a lot of offers.
Further, as Irving and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant — who will be a free agent in the offseason along with Irving — are best friends, it would seem more likely that an Irving-Durant duo would team up in the offseason rather than Irving waiting for Davis to become available. Irving awaiting Davis would be akin to Dwyane Wade waiting for Marc Gasol to hit free agency in 2011 rather than waiting for his best pal in LeBron James in 2010.
Nonetheless, should Durant remain with Golden State, there’s a greater likelihood that Irving will remain with Boston. In that event, it’s possible that Irving would seek a two-year deal to align his free agency with Davis’.
The first domino that will fall for the Celtics in the offseason will be Irving’s free agency decision or Boston’s acquisition of Davis. However, Irving’s free agency decision could be heavily dependent on Durant’s and Davis’ own playing futures.
