Irving Reveals Ambitious Celtics Plans from 2018

Much has been said about Kyrie Irving’s time in Boston and his eventual departure to join Kevin Durant in Brooklyn. His exit made him a long-time villain in Boston, a role he embraced during his time with the Nets.

Now, Irving is paired with Anthony Davis on the Mavericks following the stunning Luka Doncic trade that rocked the NBA. Reflecting on his past, the former Celtics guard revealed that he once had an elaborate plan to form a super team in Boston—one that would have included himself, Durant, Davis, and Jayson Tatum.

“In 2018, it was a dream for Kyrie, AD, and KD to be on one team while keeping JT and letting him grow,” Irving said, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “But back then, those young guys weren’t ready to be in trade rumors, man. Our locker room splintered after that, once they found out. It wasn’t JB or JT, but our locker room splintered once they started figuring out the trade rumors, and our season started going in a different way.”

Danny Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations at the time, had indeed pursued a trade for Davis, but the star big man made it clear he wouldn’t re-sign in Boston. That uncertainty led Ainge to hold onto the team’s assets rather than risk losing Davis after one season. Irving’s Celtics tenure ultimately ended in disappointment, culminating in a second-round playoff exit to the Bucks in 2019, after which he chose to leave for Brooklyn.

At the time, Tatum and Jaylen Brown were promising but unproven talents, making them natural trade chips in a potential blockbuster deal. However, they remained in Boston and have since developed into cornerstone players, leading the Celtics to an NBA championship in 2024.

While Irving suggested that trade rumors caused division in the Celtics’ locker room, his time in Boston was already filled with drama and controversy. The team underperformed in the 2019 playoffs, and his departure left a bitter taste for many in Boston.

However, for the Celtics, the past is the past. They are now reigning NBA champions, while Irving and Davis have a new challenge in Dallas. Interestingly, Durant has been the subject of trade rumors once again, fueling speculation that the Mavericks could attempt another blockbuster move.

Though Irving denied any foreshadowing, he admitted that the vision of playing together in Boston was real.

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