Kyrie Irving Rumors: Anonymous Source 'Laughed' at Reports of PG Leaving Celtics

Those close to the Boston Celtics reportedly believe All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is still planning to re-sign with the team during the offseason.

According to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, one source "laughed" at the suggestion that Irving would sign elsewhere.

While those Bulpett spoke to believe "unforeseen events" could possibly change things, the likeliest scenario is that Irving opts out and then signs a longer-term deal to remain with Boston.

At a season-ticket holders event in October, Irving said he planned to re-sign with the Celtics during the offseason: "I've shared it with some of my teammates as well as the organization, as well as everyone else in Boston. If you guys will have me back, I plan on re-signing here next year."

Boston acquired the 26-year-old in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to last season after he requested to be moved.

The deal paid dividends for the Celtics, as Boston had the second-best record in the Eastern Conference last season, and Irving averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game en route to his fifth career All-Star nod.

He missed Boston's entire playoff run, however, with a knee injury. And with Irving out, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier led the Celtics to within one win of reaching the NBA Finals.

Irving has been productive again this season with averages of 23.7 points and a career-high 6.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game, but the Celtics have had their ups and downs. They are only fifth in the Eastern Conference at 32-19, and they have struggled to find the right role for everyone on their talented roster.

During a recent rough patch, Irving blamed the Celtics' inexperience for their issues but later apologized for the comments.

The Celtics have a stacked roster featuring veterans in Irving, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Morris, Aron Baynes and Al Horford to go along with younger players such as Tatum, Brown, Rozier and Marcus Smart.

The pieces are in place for Boston to be a special team if everyone can co-exist. If Irving believes that can happen, it makes plenty of sense for him to commit to the Celtics long term.