On the surface, the Celtics’ second-round flameout to Milwaukee is good news for the Knicks, paving the way for Kyrie Irving to bail on a dysfunctional situation.
However, Irving’s nosedive in the Milwaukee series and off-kilter season with the Celtics causes concern about whether he’s the right guy at the right time for the young Knicks.
It raises the issue of whether Irving, without Kevin Durant to shoulder part of the load, is a No. 1, carry-a-franchise-on-his-back superstar.
“Kyrie is a heck of a player, but he’s had his share of injuries and has logged a lot of miles for 26 [years old],’’ one NBA scout told The Post in the aftermath of the Celtics’ collapse. “As we’ve seen, he can’t carry a team and needs the ball as a volume shooter. If the Knicks give him the max, they’re probably overpaying another declining player and will sell it as a major victory. It’s like paying a premium for a downward trending stock.’’
Pairing him with Durant — or Anthony Davis — would create few concerns. He’s proven to be a No. 2 star or a sidekick on a championship team. The scare is if Irving comes to New York alone.
The alarming part of Irving’s two seasons in Boston is a failure to connect and nurture the young talent around him. That’s all the Knicks possess.
Backup point guard Terry Rozier, a 2018 playoff star as Irving rehabbed, made rough statements after the Celtics got blown out again in Game 5 Wednesday night, saying he “sacrificed’’ more than anyone.
The remark is likely referring to Irving, considering how he played in Game 5 of the Milwaukee series, becoming an isolation machine.
“Coach was in a tough position dealing with all these guys with attitudes — all that s–t, guys that are All-Stars getting paid a lot of money, guys trying to get paid,’’ Rozier told Yahoo.
In one instance in the third quarter, Irving drove into three Bucks players who surrounded him and forced a jump ball. Irving showed no inclination to move the ball as he drove into traffic.
Rozier, whom the Knicks also like, is a restricted free agent and the Celtics could decide he’s the better — and younger — choice moving forward.
“You might say the Celtics are harder to play against with Rozier defending and orchestrating,’’ the scout said. “They have very interesting stuff coming up.’’
Irving took pointed shots in the media at some of his younger teammates such as Rozier, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Maybe that was Irving’s attempt at leadership, but the method fell flat. The quirky Irving often talks in riddles, his flat-Earth declaration still staining him.
“I think he really doesn’t want what comes with being the leader,’’ another NBA talent evaluator said. “That’s really about it.’’In Irving’s defense, the scout said he was up against an underrated tough-as-nails defender in Milwaukee’s Eric Bledsoe. Irving also faced arguably the NBA’s top coach in Mike Budenholzer, whom the Knicks interviewed and passed on.
Irving’s me-first mode Wednesday in Milwaukee was troubling in its clear ineffectiveness.
With Gordon Hayward far from the No. 1 guy he used to be in Utah following a devastating leg injury last season, Irving couldn’t lift the Celtics after a 49-win regular season. He shot 25-of-83 in the final four games against Milwaukee and did not show accountability — to the bitter end. Irving credited Milwaukee for its brilliance rather than own up to his wretched series.
Irving declined to elaborate on his future Thursday, choosing against speaking to the media after his exit interview. After Wednesday’s game, Irving ominously said, “It’s moving on to the next thing and seeing where that ends up.’’
It puts the Knicks squarely in play with them holding two max-contract slots.
Durant, whose potentially devastating calf injury could also shift his future mindset if the Warriors get eliminated without him, is known to be friends with Irving.
But if Irving prefers to join the readier-made Nets or Clippers or seeks a LeBron James reunion, perhaps the Knicks are better off going after Bronx product Kemba Walker than the West Orange, NJ, prodigy, especially if they draft point guard Ja Morant.
During the 2017-18 season, when Walker was on the block, the Knicks had no interest in trading for him because he would ultimately wind up as their max free agent, according to a source.
Since then, Walker has improved in every aspect, though he didn’t lead Charlotte to the playoffs and has so much less postseason experience than the ring-toting Irving.
Nevertheless, after Walker’s All-Star season in which he averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 assists, there is genuine organizational debate on whether Walker and his good-guy persona is a better fit than Irving.