The Boston Celtics will surely take a crack at the biggest free agent of this 2018 class in LeBron James, and while this could spell a reunion with former teammate Kyrie Irving far too soon, Fox Sports 1 panelist Nick Wright explained how the new version of this one-two punch could potentially work in Beantown.
Wright explained that their divorce spawned from Irving, not James, and that the latter would be perfectly okay with letting the young point guard take the reins during the fourth quarter to allow him to excel at what he does best — clutch situations.
“Would LeBron be okay with playing with Kyrie Irving? I say absolutely yes,” said Wright. “And do I think they would be professionals in 2018 and do their best to win games? Absolutely yes.”
Wright went on to say that making the trade would come with major implications, especially due to the magnitude of star power in Boston's roster.
“The reason I don't think LeBron and Kyrie both being in the Celtics next season is a tentative situation is not for next year — you would have to trade Gordon Hayward to open up the cap space for LeBron,” Wright explained. “You would be trading Gordon Hayward and the long-term deal he's under for LeBron — but you'd also be de facto trading Kyrie Irving the following year with nothing in return. Because if you trade for LeBron and trade away from Gordon Hayward — Kyrie is leaving in a year. Whatever LeBron James felt about the relationship, Kyrie wants to have his own team and you will never be able to have your own team if LeBron James is on it.”
The dynamic with both players on the court would basically become a one-shot gamble for a title run in 2019 and nothing more, given that Irving still feels the same way.
Someone like president Danny Ainge is sure to evaluate all these factors before making a decision, but this is likely a trade that has to be explored out of diligence, but not out of need.
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