Celtics PG Irving on future: 'Ask me July 1'

In October, in front of thousands of fans, Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving said he envisioned himself wearing the green and white for years to come. "If you guys will have me back, I plan on re-signing here," Irving said.

On Friday, with the NBA seemingly now in turmoil after one blockbuster trade and rumblings of another, Irving seemed to back off to that commitment. "Ask me July 1," Irving told reporters who asked about his future, referencing the opening date of NBA free agency.

The trade of Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas on Wednesday magically opened cap space for the New York Knicks to sign two max-contract free agents. Upcoming free agents who could have an eye on New York include Irving and Golden State's Kevin Durant. Coincidentally, the Celtics visited the Knicks on Friday night, and Irving starred with 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 113-99 win. He received loud cheers during introductions and was also serenaded with chants of "We want Kyrie!" during the game.

"It's nothing but a distraction at this point," Irving, a New Jersey native, said afterward of the cheers from the Knicks' faithful. "Like I said, I'm appreciative of the fan support I get in any arena. But of course, coming back home -- obviously, what's going on in terms of that noise and commentary, it's just a bunch of nonsense right now. So, can't do anything about it. I'm just accepting, I'm appreciative, but at the same time, I got a game to focus on." Beyond the Knicks' trade of Porzingis, a potential deal involving New Orleans star Anthony Davis -- who can't be dealt to Boston before July 1 unless Irving is traded -- also has muddied the NBA landscape.

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has not expressed any desire to trade Irving. "I talk to Kyrie all the time. My feelings have not changed. I feel like Kyrie likes it in Boston," Ainge said Thursday in a radio interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston. "But we won't know anything until July."

Various reports this week have said Irving, who turns 27 next month, would like to rejoin LeBron James and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Irving entered Friday averaging 23.7 points, 6.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 43 games this season.

The Celtics got off to a sluggish start but are now 33-19 after Friday's win and in fourth place in the NBA's Eastern Conference, five games behind first-place Milwaukee. --Field Level Media