The Anti-Bostonian: All-Star Game heightens 'Kyrie Out' for Celtics

In a symbolic sense, how much of a difference is there between Team LeBron of the All-Star Game and Team LeBron of the Western Conference (for history’s sake, let’s call them the Lakers)? The All-Star iteration featured a hand-picked team of King James’ cronies who have earned LeBron’s admiration by either being former teammates (Kyrie Irving and Dwayne Wade), potential future teammates (Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson and Kryie Irving, again) or Klutch Sports agency buddies (Ben Simmons and Anthony Davis, again). 

It's not as if the Lakers aren't hand-picked either. Besides the fact that when you Google “Team Lebron" the Lakers pop-up before the LeBron All-Stars, almost none of the Lakers roster before the Lebron era remains with the franchise. The players who have stayed, however, have almost all been included in a rumored Anthony Davis mega-deal (Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope).

Any basketball observer with a pulse knows that the NBA is heading towards a collision of dueling interests and ever-swirling storylines this offseason that will ultimately rear its ugly head to leave large, concentrated swaths of fans absolutely and unequivocally burnt to a crisp. If the Celtics aren’t careful, it may well just be their fans left kicking and screaming.

Why? Kyrie Irving has somehow been completely and simultaneously coy and not coy at all about his pending free agency, with his Boston interests dwindling as the rest of the East’s top four (Milwaukee, Toronto and Philadelphia) flexed their deadline-day muscles. He also may or may not have had a certain phone call with Sir James himself. Why else? While Anthony Davis did say he’d consider signing an extension in Boston, the grim possibility of the Irving Domino landing in either New York or LA looms, possibly de-incentivizing Davis to join the Celtics.

Furthermore, Jayson Tatum seems to be angling for a path to more touches, and knows those will come in New Orleans. Terry Rozier, despite having a horrendous shooting season, is still angling for a starting gig, one that the Phoenix Suns will literally give to anyone these days. They just traded for a guy named Tyler Johnson, who’s making $19m next season, to play next to the still-resilient Devin Booker. Have you heard of Tyler Johnson? He wasn’t even in Miami’s rotation.

Aside from a Tyler Johnson tangent (he’s a lefty, did you know that? Do you care?), the Celtics are suddenly in a precarious position. Their All-Star point guard may join an old friend, or worse, take a Greyhound Bus down to New York. Their gem-of-a-trade-target has other options — or worse, may be traded for and then leave, depleting their assets. One of those assets (Tatum) may be desperate to leave. The architecture of the core is either horrendously overpriced (Average Al, Max-Contract Hayward), or wants big money in free agency (Rozier, Marcus Morris Sr.).

Hey, Daniel Theis looks pretty good though. But my money's on the Brooklyn Nets knocking the Celtics out in seven.