The entire NBA trade deadline this year is getting really exciting. Kristaps Prozingis was shipped off to the Dallas Mavericks as the New York Knicks have wiped out their payroll problems because they want to make a big splash this summer in free agency and shoot for Kevin Durant. Anthony Davis has made it clear that he wants to leave the New Orleans Pelicans and has said he only wants to sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, Kyrie Irving has made comments that could turn this entire trade deadline on its head.

Irving on his impending free agency

At a big special event for the fans late last year, Kyrie Irving made it clear that he was going to re-sign with the Boston Celtics. He actually said that he wanted to see his jersey hung in the rafters in Boston when his career came to a close. Things seem to have changed. Late in 2018, Irving started to have a war of words with the young Celtics stars around him.

Kyrie called his teammates out for a perceived lack of commitment as well as what he considered to be them not listening to the veterans around them. At least one young teammate told Irving he should look in the mirror. Things got heated and eventually, Irving called LeBron James to apologize for how he acted when he was a younger player -- obviously seeing his young teammates acting out in a similar way that he did before.

Things are not rosy anymore in Boston with Kyrie Irving. ESPN's Ian Begley reported that Kyrie was asked about re-signing with the Boston Celtics in free agency and his response was no longer solid. According to Kyrie, no one would know until July 1 -- the first day of free agency. He then said that he will do what is best for his career and that he doesn't "owe anybody s**t."

How Kyrie affects the NBA trade deadline

LeBron James recently said that he wouldn't be against playing with Kyrie Irving again if the star wanted to reunite with him and the Los Angeles Lakers.

At the moment, the Lakers are really pushing to trade for Anthony Davis by the trade deadline. If that happens, they can't touch Kyrie until free agency starts. However, if Kyrie chooses not to re-sign, and the Celtics don't trade him, they run the chance of losing him and getting nothing in return.

ESPN reported that Anthony Davis does not believe that Kyrie Irving will re-sign with the Boston Celtics, so he doesn't consider that an option for him long-term either. If the Lakers pull off the trade for AD and then somehow manage to sign Kyrie in the offseason as a free agent, they could immediately become the best team in the NBA.
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