Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Predicts Kyrie Irving Will Leave Celtics in Free Agency

With the Boston Celtics' season ending at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the big question that remains is whether Kyrie Irving will return next season in light of his oncoming free agency.

And his former boss already thinks he knows what's going to happen this summer.

When asked about the decision to trade Irving to the Celtics two years ago, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert gave his prediction that Irving will leave Boston and hit the open market.

"I don’t know, but I think Kyrie will leave Boston," Gilbert said. “We could have ended up with nothing. Looking back after all the moves [Cavs GM] Koby [Altman] made, we killed it in that trade."

While Gilbert states his belief that Irving will leave the Celtics, he didn't say where he would end up going.

After Irving stressed his desire to lead his own team, Gilbert and Altman traded him to the Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Net's 2018 first-round draft pick, and the Miami Heat's 2020 second-rounder. And here we are.

Rumors have circulated that Irving may want to rejoin LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers, or team with Kevin Durant with the New York Knicks. However, that's all they are-- rumors. Kyrie has been tight-lipped and even ornery when asked about his free agency plans, and could very well surprise us all in due time.

Gilbert isn't alone in believing that Kyrie Irving's days in Beantown are done. Mark those calendars for July 1st.