Danny Ainge Thinks Kyrie Irving Picked Nets Over Knicks by March

It was clear to the Celtics organization, their fans, and most of the league that Kyrie Irving wanted out of Boston by the end of the season.

Where exactly he wanted to go was still a big question as free agency began, and people started to speculate about his ultimate course of action. Apparently, though, Celtics GM Danny Ainge had a pretty good idea that Kyrie would be headed to Brooklyn, and a little sooner than most would expect.

In an interview with 98.6 The Sports Hub in Boston on Thursday, Ainge claimed that Kyrie had given him the impression that he wanted to go home, and to Ainge, that meant Brooklyn more than New York.

According to Ainge, these ideas starting popping up around March, which alarmed many listeners to the now-accepted fact that Kyrie was ready to leave well before the team had been bounced from the playoffs.

The Celtics GM called back to the station to clarify, explaining that although Kyrie had a desire to go home, he always told Ainge that staying in Boston was a possibility. March just seemed like the point at which Kyrie started to weigh all of his options.

At this point, though, none of this discussion really matters considering the fact that Kyrie Irving basically ditched the Celtics for the Nets.

His decision was the leading domino in NBA free agency allowing the Nets to win out with him and Kevin Durant, leaving the Knicks with absolutely nothing, and leaving the Celtics in the perfect position to acquire Hornets guard Kemba Walker as a replacement.

With Kyrie Irving taking his place in Brooklyn this upcoming season and Kevin Durant expected to make his return at the beginning of the next, there's no question that the Nets will own the state of New York, and possibly the whole Eastern Conference once KD is ready.

Sorry, Boston.