That’s according to NBA analyst Jalen Rose.
Despite indicating back in October he would re-sign with Boston in the offseason when he can opt out of his current deal and enter free agency, Irving has recently been more non-committal over his future.
Asked about his free agency decision, the 26-year-old guard declared: “Ask me July 1.”
Kyrie’s relationship with LeBron, with whom he won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, has seen him tipped to move to southern California with the Lakers boasting max salary cap space to attract one of the several major free agents who could be on the market.
LeBron was asked about Kyrie again recently and was once again highly complimentary of his former team-mate, despite Irving demanding a trade from the Cavs two years ago in order to lead his own franchise.
The four-time MVP told The Athletic: “Yeah, we’re in a good place right now. Me and Kyrie are in a good place right now. I love the man that he’s becoming, I love the challenges he’s accepted and I always wish the best for him.”
That comes after Kyrie revealed he spoke with LeBron over the phone recently to apologise for wanting “everything at his fingertips” as a young player in Cleveland with Boston having endured struggles with the team often looking to Irving to lead them.
But Rose thinks Irving would be better off looking to link up with another free agent in Durant, who has been tipped to leave the Golden State Warriors to lead his franchise to glory at a team like the LA Clippers or the New York Knicks.
Rose told ESPN show Jalen & Jacoby: “Kyrie cannot look at anyone in Cleveland and or LeBron James and acknowledge that he does not want to play with him.
“He got rewarded because he got traded to a better team with terrific young talent that made it to the Conference Finals without him.
“They’ve got arguably the best general manager in Danny Ainge, one of the best coaches in Brad Stevens, a plethora of young talent and they could possibly get multiple first-round picks.
“When you get the chance to be the best player on that team, all of a sudden you cannot go and play with LeBron James in L.A.
“If you’re going to leave Boston, just like KD, it can’t be to go and run with LeBron.
“Those two guys, to me, who we’ve talked about their leadership and being the best player on a top-tier team, they may be able to team up and show that they can do that together in a different city.
“But I don’t see Kyrie going to L.A. to run with LeBron. I think that ship has sailed. Especially at this point in LeBron’s career going into his 17th season.”
While both Kyrie and Durant reportedly want to lead their own teams, Rose believes a pairing of the two is not impossible –
“It does make sense because in the dynamics of today’s NBA, you need more than a dynamic duo, you need a trio.
“The Golden State Warriors are starting five All-Stars from the previous season. The ante has been upped.
“You’re not trying to go to a team and say that you’ve gotten there because you’ve those two guys who have already experienced championship.
“Now you can go to a situation and the pressure isn’t on you to try and get it done because you’ve already accomplished it.”