NBA trade news: Kyrie Irving huge claim, Kevin Durant twist, LeBron James Lakers challenge
NBA news - The offseason is in full swing with teams getting ready to return to training camp next month. Here’s all the latest news from up and down the league
Kyrie Irving: Colin Cowherd says Knicks rumours are true
Kyrie Irving will not be at the Boston Celtics for the entirety of his career and could viably leave to join the New York Knicks next summer.
That’s according to former NBA ace Dennis Scott, who believes Irving’s departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers should be a warning sign to the Celtics.
Irving is one of several All-Stars who could be available as a free agent in 2019.
Boston performed incredibly in the 2018 playoffs without Irving as Terry Rozier, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown stepped up to take them within one game of reaching the NBA Finals.
Irving has refused to disclose any thoughts on his upcoming free agency, but Scott doesn’t think the 26-year-old will stay.
“Do I think he will stay a Celtic for the rest of his career? No,” Scott said on NBA TV.
“After what Kyrie showed us leaving Cleveland… I can see him and Danny sitting down and saying ‘Kyrie, what do you want to do?’ [Kyrie will say] ‘What are you doing? Who are you keeping? Is this my team?’
“Or if New York called and said ‘hey we have the sam amount of money and this is your team’.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Kyrie left.”
Another big name in the league who could choose to leave their respective team is Kevin Durant.
He signed a two-year deal with reigning champions Golden State Warriors this summer, but has a player-option for the second season.
There has been heavy speculation suggesting Durant may opt to leave in order to stay in control of his own future.
However, Scott believes Durant will opt to stay with Golden State along with Klay Thompson and Steph Curry.
“I think he’s in it for the long haul,” he said.
“He and Bob Myers have developed a solid relationship from a business standpoint because you can see the way he signs this contract.
“At the end of the day he can build a good relationship with Steph. Steph’s locked in. I think Klay and KD stay with Golden State and they ride this out.”
Kevin Durant will consider Oklahoma City says expert
LeBron James may have called it a “dream come true” to join the Los Angeles Lakers, but Atlanta Hawks star John Collins has warned the 33-year-old he could be in for the biggest challenge of his career.
James joined the Lakers in free agency last month and there have already been murals popping up of James painted alongside Lakers legends such as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
And Collins believes the 33-year-old will be under immense pressure to deliver a title to Los Angeles.
“I think if you’re a basketball player and around basketball then you already knew he was going to the Lakers,” Collins told Express Sport.
“It’s no surprise to me but I feel like there’s going to be a lot of pressure on him.
“All the greats have played in that purple and gold and the player he’s become.. he has to go over there and win if he wants to become one of the elite Lakers.
“It’s going to be fun to watch.”