Kyrie Irving's future with the Boston Celtics is apparently more tenuous than anyone anticipated. The six-time All-Star made headlines Friday morning by walking back his previous remarks about intending to opt out of his contract this summer and sign a long-term deal with the green and gold. The timing and location of Irving's comments only added fuel to the fire, which fans at Madison Square Garden poured even more gasoline on during Friday night's nationally-televised tilt between the Celtics and New York Knicks.

Irving, a native of nearby West Orange, NJ, is a top target of the Knicks in free agency this summer. New York created enough space below the salary cap with Thursday's shocking trade of Kristaps Porzingis to accommodate two max-salary slots come July, and conventional wisdom is that general manager Steve Mills has his eyes set on luring Irving and two-time reigning Finals MVP Kevin Durant to the Big Apple.

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It's unclear if the Celtics superstar has a legitimate interest in signing with the Knicks, who have won just a single playoff series since the turn of the millennium. But his remarks at shootaround sparked a storm of speculation nonetheless, even though Irving clarified his stance on free agency by insisting Boston remained the favorite to sign him.

Irving, 26, is enjoying the finest season of his career in 2018-19. He's averaging 23.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and a career-high 6.9 assists per game while exhibiting a new sense of commitment defensively and posting an impressive true shooting percentage of 60.3.

The Celtics won over the Knicks, 113-99, behind Irving's 23 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.