When “Kyrie Irving” and “knee procedure” are in the same sentence, that’s bad news for the Boston Celtics. But David Griffin is offering some hopeful perspective.
The former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Friday to react to the news that Irving will undergo a “minimally invasive procedure” Saturday on his injured left knee. And while the Celtics didn’t offer a timetable, Griffin doesn’t believe the operation will end Irving’s season prematurely.
“This is not a major situation,” Griffin said of Irving’s procedure. “This is not something that is going to keep him out for the rest of the year in all likelihood, unless something really went awry.”
It’s unclear whether Griffin has any inside information — he was Irving’s boss for six seasons in Cleveland and knows the point guard well — or if he’s just speculating. We have reason to believe the ex-Cavs GM, though: Most reports have indicated there’s no major structural damage in Irving’s knee and that there’s a good chance he returns during the playoffs at some point.
That said, it’s very possible the All-Star point guard could miss the first round of the postseason. With Marcus Smart also on the shelf until at least the second round and Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis (probably) sidelined for the remainder of the season, that series could get dicey for Boston if Irving can’t go, depending on which team it draws.
