Mike Gorman: Kyrie Irving staying with Celtics long term is “not a given” (podcast)

Should the Celtics trade Kyrie Irving? A question asked by absolutely no one that has somehow become the most hotly debated topic of the offseason. Celtics media has rallied their defenses against these menacing barbarians at the gates clamoring for noble Green blood. Angrily shouting down these nasty ‘rumors’ that have been neither reported nor supported.

This has become the dog chasing its tail.

But since we’re talking about it (see what I did there?) would the Celtics consider trading Kyrie Irving? Legendary Celtics play-by-play broadcaster Mike Gorman says….maybe?

“Certainly, if you’re going to trade Kyrie you get excited because there’s a whole lot coming back,” Gorman told host Evan Valenti on the Celtics Beat Podcast on CLNS Media Network. “Danny [Ainge] doesn’t like to put the untouchable label on anybody. I do think [Jayson] Tatum is untouchable myself. It would take some unbelievable offer to get him away from Boston right now. But I think everyone else is in play to some degree.”

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Gorman doesn’t think it’s likely the Celtics trade Irving but if the team is serious in its pursuit of Pelicans big man Anthony Davis, Irving might have to be part of any legitimate offer the Celtics make.

“Again, if you’re talking about the big guy from New Orleans [Anthony Davis] then you’re going to have to be talking about a really really, good player going back the other way. And that’s the only other player that the Celtics really would put everyone on the table for.”

Irving is under contract this season and then has an opt out. The assumption has been all along that he would decline the player option and then sign a max-deal with Boston who can pay him the most money. Slam dunk right? Gorman says he doesn’t “think it’s a given” anymore.

“I think Kyrie’s record over the course of his career would tell you that injuries have been a problem,” said Gorman. “I think you have to be smart here and look at what the facts are, and understand that they may be a problem going forward too.”

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Irving had season ending knee surgery in April. While he is expected to make a full recovery Gorman thinks this year will go a long way towards determining whether Irving is firmly in the Celtics plans for the future.

“You’d like to see Kyrie, who’s in a contract year next year, to have the season of his career. I think the big measurement for Kyrie going forward is how many games can you reasonably get out of him.”

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