In the least surprising news story of the week, Kyrie Irving will become a free agent this summer. According to a report by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Irving has decided not to opt into the final year of his contract with the Boston Celtics, one which would pay him $21.3 million for the 2019-20 season.
Celtics' Kyrie Irving is not opting into his $21.3 million deal for next season and will become a free agent eligible to sign a new contract with Boston or elsewhere, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 12, 2019
While the move signals that Irving indeed plans on entering the open market, it was something that everyone expected to occur. As Charania laid out, the Celtics have planned on this happening for some time.
Boston has expected this ahead of Irving’s option date on Thursday. For Irving, it is an opt-in so no paperwork necessary to enter free agency. https://t.co/8ecykuIyi7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 12, 2019
There is plenty of intrigue about what Irving is going to end up doing this summer. Despite him saying his intention was to return to the Celtics before the season, rumors have existed for months about where exactly he’ll suit up at the start of next season. In fact, Las Vegas believes the Knicks and Nets are the two favorites to acquire his services in free agency, while the Lakers have the same odds as the Celtics.
Still, whether he was heading elsewhere or staying put in Beantown, Irving was always going to decline his player option for 2019-20 so he can be in position to get a major payday this summer. Now that this domino has finally fallen, the biggest question is what will happen next.
