Kyrie Irving is under contract to play for the Boston Celtics next season. After that, he has the option to opt out of his deal and test free agency waters for the first time in his career. The hope for Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens, and Irving’s teammates, is that the star point guard will elect to return to the Celtics’ shore at that time.
There’s reason to trust that hope. In February, Irving was asked about the possibility of Gordon Hayward returning to the court before the end of the season. He replied that he wouldn’t want his fellow All-Star rushing back, because “we need him for years to come.